Kirsten Luce
The Dark Side of Wildlife Tourism (2017–2018)
Kirsten Luce
The Dark Side of Wildlife Tourism 2017–2018
Animal attractions draw people from all over the world and are a lucrative segment of a growing global travel industry. Social media is igniting the wildlife tourism industry. They are turning encounters with exotic animals into photo rallies, with selfies posted as viral advertisements touting these experiences. The visibility they offer does not show the reality experienced by the animals. People who feel joy and exhilaration in getting close to wild animals are usually unaware of what the animals experience. Kirsten Luce travelled the world to investigate and discovered, hidden from our view, their suffering. The series aims to raise awareness of this abuse, to make us think twice before participating in such activities or publishing images that may encourage this abusive treatment of animals.
New York-based freelance photojournalist Kirsten Luce (b. 1981, USA) is best known for her documentation of immigration and law enforcement at the US-Mexico border.