Tools for traveling activists
October 19th, 2011 by admin
ARFF often receives complaints from tourists about attractions in Florida where animals are suffering from neglect and/or an inadequate environment. We always encourage them to share what they witnessed with online rating/review websites like Yelp.com, TripAdvisor.com or Citysearch.com. These sites are popular and consistently appear at the top of search results when looking for information about local attractions, restaurants, etc.
This week ARFF heard from a visitor to Jungle Island in Miami who was disturbed by the tigers who pace back and forth. She wrote, “I’m not an animal expert but it doesn’t take one to figure out this place does not treat animals right!” Many of the reviews already online were similar. A one star review from last month on Yelp began, “I was immediately disturbed when we walked through the gates and workers shoved a parrot into my arms and put one on my shoulder so I could pose for a picture. They showed zero concern for the parrots.” A visitor to Jungle Island from Kansas wrote on TripAdvisor, “most of the exhibits left us feeling sorry for the animals.” Learn more about Jungle Island on ARFF’s website.
The reviews of the Miami Seaquarium, another depressing South Florida attraction, are even worse. A visitor from Rhode Island wrote on Yelp, “You will leave feeling as though you just supported the mistreatment of animals, or at least that is how I felt!” Another visitor wrote about the captive orca Lolita, “There are pools in people’s backyards in Miami that are bigger than the tank where that poor enormous whale lives in.”
If you or your relatives have the misfortune of visiting an alligator farm, roadsize zoo or substandard aquarium in Florida, please let ARFF know and then share your concerns on Yelp and TripAdvisor so others don’t make the same mistake! When you’re online, be sure to also rate your favorite vegan-friendly restaurants.
Both Yelp and TripAdvisor require users to create a free account, or sign in via Facebook, to post a review.