Audley is firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel, which also includes supporting a number of wildlife related initiatives.
Request a Brochure
Wildlife holidays: a tiger and cubs, Ranthambhore National Park, India
We feel strongly that wherever possible Audley should try to directly benefit the communities we visit through either sustainable travel or social projects.
However another important element that we can add to this is environmental protection. We therefore highlight a few wildlife conservation projects we continue to support.
Friends of Conservation supports a NGO called the 'Prakratik Society', which operates in Ranthambhore, an internationally renowned National Tiger Reserve, located in the state of Rajasthan in Northern India.
Much needed medical and education facilities are provided for the communities living in the villages on the borders of the reserve. The area is, however, under great pressure from the growing human population. Large numbers of cattle are grazing freely in the reserve and causing severe environmental damage to the habitat.
One solution to this has been to set up an artificial insemination programme whereby the cattle are stalled, vaccinated and generally looked after. This leads to improved health and results in better breeding stocks and increased milk yields, bringing commercial benefits too.
The resulting dung can be used to fuel existing bio-gas plants, providing alternatives to open fires - thus preserving forest resources and in this case, critical habitat for the severely endangered tiger.
Information kindly provided by Friends of Conservation.
Whilst researching Jordan as a new destination several years ago, the work of the RSCN came to the attention of our North Africa & Arabia Programme Manager.
We have supported them ever since, becoming a Corporate Member but more importantly instructing our ground agent in Jordan to contract certain ground arrangements, such as selected accommodation, through the society.
The RSCN runs five main reserves in Jordan, and has followed a very successful model pioneered in the Dana Nature Reserve, where the local Bedouin are actively involved in the running and managing of the reserves and developing an excellent eco-tourism infrastructure.
As well as protecting areas of beauty, rare animals are also bred in the reserves, such as oryx and ibex. We are corporate members of the RSCN and promote them wherever we can.
Even if you decide not to include a visit to one of their reserves, the excellent Wild Jordan centre in Amman showcases their activities and sells handicrafts from the communities they support. It is also the starting point for our walking tour of Amman.
Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT) is a collective campaign encompassing all those involved in wildlife tourism in India and South Asia.
In co-operation with Global Tiger Patrol it aims to support a sustainable approach to tourism in wildlife reserves, together with aiding specific conservation programmes which benefit local communities and wildlife.