Advocating Responsible and Safe Wildlife Tourism by Strengthening Preventive Measures and Tackling Challenges

Abstract Wildlife tourism deals with travellers coming to observe and interact with animals in their natural habitats. The objectives of the current article are to identify different types of interaction in wildlife tourism, propose preventive measures for safe wildlife tourism, ascertain the potential challenges and the strategies that can be recommended to overcome these challenges. This type of tourism has received massive popularity in the recent past as there is a trend that people want to spend and experience their time close to nature and observe exotic and endangered species. Exposure to these human–animal interaction-related activities has been linked to the acquisition of zoonotic diseases, the transmission of parasites that can infect both humans and animals, and risk of injuries or attacks when animals feel threatened. Acknowledging the widespread risks and consequences that can precipitate during wildlife tourism, there is an indispensable need to implement preventive measures to protect public health, wildlife health, and ecosystems at large. In conclusion, close human–animal interactions in wildlife tourism can significantly increase the probability of zoonotic disease transmission and disturb the ecosystem. There is an immense need to implement public health measures to foster safe and responsible wildlife tourism where sustainable tourism practices are supported.