Bangladesh Unbound was founded on the principle of socially conscious travel. Our mission has always been to find the best guides and drivers in every location in Bangladesh and to help them be successful participants in their local tourism industry. We work daily to connect guides with travellers who choose to spend their money in a way that benefits the communities they visit when they travel.

Our travellers value their power as consumers to make informed and responsible decisions when travelling, and this consideration also extends to the animals impacted by worldwide tourism. Bangladesh Unbound has created its own Animal Welfare Policy to help guides continue to provide unique, 5-Star tour experiences while avoiding activities that may encourage harmful or irresponsible behaviour toward animals.

Bangladesh Unbound now requires guides to take special consideration when planning a tour that involves any interaction with animals; this includes:

• Tours include viewing or interacting with animals in the wild or captivity.
• Tours include visits to animal habitats or any animal enclosure (such as zoos, aquariums, farms, and sanctuaries).
• Tours include transportation involving animals.

The following Animal Welfare Policy outlines forms of animal tourism that Bangladesh Unbound considers to be incompatible with our approach to socially conscious travel;

Our Policy

Activities described below should NOT Include or Perform by any Guides or Guests during a Tour:

• Viewing animals in the wild:
1. when the animals have been lured closer for entertainment (such as photo opportunities, rides, shows or tricks).
2. unless at a respectful and safe distance to avoid disrupting natural behaviours (this includes keeping drones at a respectful and safe distance).
• Viewing and interacting with animals in enclosures (such as zoos, aquariums, farms, sanctuaries and more):
1. which hold wild animals (such as elephants, big cats, whales, dolphins, porpoises, monkeys and more).
2. which are run solely for profit.
3. in which animals are used for entertainment (such as for photo opportunities, carriage rides, shows, sporting events or tricks).
4. in which animals are bred in captivity unless responsibly released into the wild.
5. unless the facility exists to rescue/rehabilitate animals (i.e. where the animals were sick, injured, orphaned, donated or abandoned when they arrived) and the facility holds appropriate credentials/permits/licenses.
• Interacting with animals in the wild,
1. this includes touching, petting, feeding, riding, chasing or disturbing animals.
• Any hunting,
1. unless sustainable fishing with appropriate local licenses is obtained.
• Consumption of meat or products derived from endangered animals.
• Using non-domesticated animals as transportation,
1. includes riding, sitting on or travelling by any non-domesticated/wild animals (such as elephants, ostriches, big cats, dolphins and more).
2. suppose a tour does necessitate riding, sitting on or travelling by domesticated animals (such as horses, camels and more). In that case, the guide must confirm that the animals are kept in acceptable conditions and that the facilities/providers hold appropriate licences.

Bangladesh Unbound encourages guides and travellers to
contact our support staff for feedback, questions, or concerns
regarding any tour against our approach to socially conscious travel.