Sharjah 24: The high scale of suffering endured by animals at wildlife tourism attractions around the world has sparked the curiosity and deepened the empathy of 8-year-old Saif Ibrahim as he watched a documentary on the topic at the sixth edition of Xposure International Photography Festival, currently underway at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Aaron Gekoski’s documentary on orangutans at a wildlife reserve in Asia highlighted the miserable conditions of these captive animals and the suffering they had to endure to attract larger numbers of selfie-loving and social media-addicted tourists.

For young Saif Ibrahim, the short film screened at the ‘Cinema’ at Xposure 2022, was an eye-opener into the murky world of the global wildlife tourism industry. Disturbed by the actions of humans portrayed in the documentary, little Saif raised pertinent questions that concern us all: what does respect for animals mean; why are humans mean to animals; and how can we see animals if we should not keep them in zoos?

The young boy’s questions lead on to improved solutions such as responsible tourism practices to foster deeper connections with a wild animal and ensure that wildlife encounters are centred on animal conservation and welfare. The poignant questions raised by the young boy also turns the spotlight on global issues of wildlife trafficking and highlights why greater educational awareness is essential to mark the transition to ethical tourism – themes that find resonance in the impactful works of wildlife photographers at Xposure each year.