How are hotels supporting animal conservation?
Creating a unique selling point can help hoteliers stand out in a saturated market. For those hotels in the right location, actively supporting animal conservation can be an enticing feature for animal loving or experience-driven guests. We take a look at ways that hotels have been supporting animal conservation efforts around the world
Image: Giraffe Manor
Image: North Island
Image: Wilderness Safaris
Image: Aman
Image: Derrick Thomson
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
At the bottom of land used as a sanctuary by the Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), the aptly named Giraffe Manor has been dedicated to protecting and conserving the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe since the 1970s.
Since its inception, the AFEW has helped to boost the number of Rothschild’s giraffe in the wild through its breeding programme. The hotel has played a vital role in supporting this effort both through education and finance. For each guest that stays at Giraffe Manor, the its owner and operator The Safari Company donates $10 to the AFEW to help support the conservation programmes.
North Island, Seychelles
It’s hard to believe that only a few years ago, North Island – a private island hideaway in the inner granitic islands of the Seychelles - was a neglected landscape, battling with the invasion of foreign fauna and flora leftover following the collapse of the coconut trade in the 1970s.
Great effort has been put into restoring the island to its former glory, and North Island resort has played a key role in helping to return native wildlife and plants to the surrounding environment.
The resort has established a conservation and island rehabilitation programme called ‘Noah’s Ark’, which sees tortoises and bird species gradually being reintroduced to the island. One notable step was the return of the endangered Seychelles White Eye in 2007, which is now thriving on the island. In the future, North Island hopes to reintroduce three other endangered birds species: Black parrot, Seychelles Warbler and the Seychelles Magpie Robin.
Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Safari, Rwanda
Nestled in the famed Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda, Bisate Lodge is quickly making a name for itself as a hub for great ape research. Although the iconic mountain gorilla may be the most well-know resident, the surrounding area is home to more than 70 mammal species, including one of the worlds more endangered primates – the golden monkey.
Guests at Bistate have a unique opportunity to see these animals in the bamboo forests, a critical habitat for the golden monkey, which Bisate has been working to expand with a reforestation project.
Each of the six villas onsite have been constructed using natural materials and much of the interior décor is comprised of sustainable materials that have been created using local craftsmanship techniques.
Amanyara, Turks and Caicos
The white sand beaches and crystal-clear ocean water surrounding Amanyara Resort in the Turks and Caicos showcase just how impactful wildlife protection efforts can be, both above and below water level.
In addition to boasting its own resident marine biologist, who can provide guests with a crash course into the undersea ecosystem, the Amanyara Resort offers guests the opportunity to get hands on conservation experience through the Amanyara Sea Turtle Initiative. As part of this programme, guests can help researchers tag turtles and collect data to help biologists learn more about turtle population.
Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia
Hidden among a group of uninhabited islands in Raja Ampat, Indonesia is an exclusive dive resort that puts marine wildlife at the heart of its organisation. In partnership with the Misool Foundation, the Misool private island resort is dedicated to safeguarding some of the most biodiverse reefs on the planet.
The resort is surrounded by a 1,200 square kilometre ‘no-take-zone’, which prohibits all methods of fishing, extraction of natural materials, dumping, dredging or construction activities. Local rangers patrol the reserve to ensure that these rules are not breached, with support from Marine Police.
In addition to the treatment rooms, Vitalé Café Bar has also received a £340,000 investment to give it a complete transformation.
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
At the bottom of land used as a sanctuary by the Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), the aptly named Giraffe Manor has been dedicated to protecting and conserving the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe since the 1970s.
Since its inception, the AFEW has helped to boost the number of Rothschild’s giraffe in the wild through its breeding programme. The hotel has played a vital role in supporting this effort both through education and finance. For each guest that stays at Giraffe Manor, owner and operator The Safari Company donates $10 to the AFEW to help support the conservation programmes.
Image: Giraffe Manor
North Island, Seychelles
It’s hard to believe that only a few years ago, North Island – a private island hideaway in the inner granitic islands of the Seychelles - was a neglected landscape, battling with the invasion of foreign fauna and flora leftover following the collapse of the coconut trade in the 1970s.
Great effort has been put into restoring the island to its former glory, and North Island resort has played a key role in helping to return native wildlife and plants to the surrounding environment.
The resort has established a conservation and island rehabilitation programme called ‘Noah’s Ark’, which sees tortoises and bird species gradually being reintroduced to the island. One notable step was the return of the endangered Seychelles White Eye in 2007, which is now thriving on the island. In the future, North Island hopes to reintroduce three other endangered birds species: Black Parrot, Seychelles Warbler and the Seychelles Magpie Robin.
Image: North Island
Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Safari, Rwanda
Nestled in the famed Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda, Bisate Lodge is quickly making a name for itself as a hub for great ape research. Although the iconic mountain gorilla may be the most well-know resident, the surrounding area is home to more than 70 mammal species, including one of the worlds more endangered primates – the golden monkey.
Guests at Bistate have a unique opportunity to see these animals in the bamboo forests, a critical habitat for the golden monkey, which Bisate has been working to expand with a reforestation project.
Each of the six villas onsite have been constructed using natural materials and much of the interior décor is comprised of sustainable materials that have been created using local craftsmanship techniques.
Image: Wilderness Safaris
Amanyara, Turks and Caicos
The white sand beaches and crystal-clear ocean water surrounding Amanyara Resort in the Turks and Caicos showcase just how impactful wildlife protection efforts can be, both above and below water level.
In addition to boasting its own resident marine biologist, who can provide guests with a crash course into the undersea ecosystem, the Amanyara Resort offers guests the opportunity to get hands on conservation experience through the Amanyara Sea Turtle Initiative. As part of this programme, guests can help researchers tag turtles and collect data to help biologists learn more about turtle population.
Image: Aman
Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia
Hidden among a group of uninhabited islands in Raja Ampat, Indonesia is an exclusive dive resort that puts marine wildlife at the heart of its organisation. In partnership with the Misool Foundation, the Misool private island resort is dedicated to safeguarding some of the most biodiverse reefs on the planet.
The resort is surrounded by a 1,200 square kilometre ‘no-take-zone’, which prohibits all methods of fishing, extraction of natural materials, dumping, dredging or construction activities. Local rangers patrol the reserve to ensure that these rules are not breached, with support from marine police.
Image: Derrick Thomson
In addition to the treatment rooms, Vitalé Café Bar has also received a £340,000 investment to give it a complete transformation
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