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Forget the wildlife selfie – the best way to appreciate animals is from a distance
Demand for animal interactions is on the rise, but even well-intentioned tourists might struggle to find experiences that are good for both visitor and animal.
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It is a blistering afternoon – in other words, regular Chiang Mai weather – and my group of seven is plodding through the Changchill elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand, trying to spot one of four resident pachyderms.
Our guide warns that a sighting is not guaranteed. The humidity is soupy and cloaking, the air scented with artificial-coconut sunscreen, citronella oil and perspiration. Mosquitoes nip at exposed slivers of our wrists and ankles. On we trudge.
