Animal lovers seeking a meaningful and memorable getaway will find plenty of destinations around the world that focus on wildlife conservation and ethical encounters.
From the vibrant streets of Istanbul, where community cats roam freely, to the landscapes of Chengdu, a sanctuary for pandas, these places offer unique opportunities to connect with wildlife in a responsible manner.
Tasmania, Australia
This island state of Australia is a haven for wildlife, with unique species that include wombats, wallabies, echidnas and the Tasmanian devil. The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a standout for its rescue-and-release efforts and offers guided experiences with native animals that are focused on education and conservation.
There's also the Maria Island National Park, where visitors can spot animals in the wild without fences or feeding programmes, ensuring a natural, low-impact interaction.
Namibia
Namibia is home to some of the most progressive conservation efforts in Africa. The N/a’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary near Windhoek rescues and rehabilitates animals, including cheetahs, leopards and baboons.
Additionally, the Etosha National Park allows self-guided or guided safaris that focus on non-invasive wildlife observation. Community-based conservancies also help local populations while protecting species such as black rhinos and desert elephants.
Costa Rica
Known for its rich biodiversity and strong eco-tourism ethics, Costa Rica is one of the best places to see sloths, monkeys, toucans and sea turtles in the wild.
The Jaguar Rescue Centre in Puerto Viejo, founded by two biologists, rehabilitates injured animals with the goal of eventually releasing them back into the wild. Meanwhile, Tortuguero National Park offers guided turtle nesting tours under strict regulations to avoid disturbing the animals. The country’s focus on sustainable tourism makes it ideal for animal lovers who want to minimise harm.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thailand has a long history of elephant tourism, much of which has faced criticism for unethical practices such as elephant riding and forced performances. However, there are some ethical elephant sanctuaries that are open to travellers, and Chiang Mai in the north has a few to offer. Ethical sanctuaries prioritise the well-being of elephants, allowing them to roam freely, engage in natural behaviours and prohibit direct human interactions such as riding or bathing them.
Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is one such sanctuary, acting as a retirement home for rescued elephants and considered as one of the places that set the benchmark for the proper treatment of elephants in Thailand. Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary, just outside Chiang Mai is another. This small family-run sanctuary prioritises elephant welfare, ensuring visitors do not touch the elephants, but allowing people to instead observe them from a nearby tower. There's also hands-on activities such as planting feed for the elephants.
Istanbul, Turkey
Known as the "City of Cats", Istanbul is a popular place for cat lovers to visit. With thousands of street cats roaming freely and sturdy animal welfare laws in place, the city’s residents have a long history of caring for them, treating them as part of the urban landscape. Cats can be found lounging in cafes, on rooftops and even in historic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia.
Felines are cared for by the community, with people often leaving out food and water, and small outdoor shelters for cats to cosy up in. Of course, like in many big cities, there are still some challenges, such as cultural beliefs or traditions about certain animals being unclean or unlucky, but on the whole, Istanbul is a must-visit for cat fans.
Yamanouchi, Japan
Yamanouchi is famous for its Jigokudani Monkey Park, where visitors can observe Japanese macaques bathing in natural hot springs during the winter months. The monkeys are not confined but roam freely within the park, and the environment is designed to mimic their natural habitat. The park emphasises the importance of respecting the animals by encouraging visitors to observe from a distance without interfering with their natural behaviours. Feeding or touching the monkeys is strictly prohibited.
Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi has several ethical wildlife experiences, thanks to organisations such as the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (an elephant orphanage) and Giraffe Manor, a luxury boutique hotel which houses endangered Rothschild giraffes and champions ethical practices, including offering an expansive natural habitat and giving the animals freedom to roam. Each visit also funds a donation from the hotel to conservation causes.
The Kenyan capital is also home to Nairobi National Park, where visitors can see animals in the wild against a backdrop of city skyscrapers and where a portion of the park entry fee goes towards conservation. Be sure to do your research if booking to visit via a tour company, as there are many unethical operators. To guarantee that your actions only have a positive impact on the wildlife and local community, try booking a trip with Natural World or African Adventures, both of which prioritise animal welfare.
Chengdu, China
Chengdu, in China’s Sichuan province, is home to the giant panda and closely connected with conservation of the black and white bears making it a top destination for animal lovers who want to see pandas ethically and responsibly. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, just outside the city, is one of the top institutions dedicated to the breeding, research and conservation of pandas. Despite its love of pandas, travellers should be aware that the city has several other animal welfare issues, including a dog meat trade and a lack of adequate shelters for strays.
Antarctica
Antarctica offers pristine and awe-inspiring wildlife encounters. It is home to species such as penguins, seals and whales, and the continent's isolation and strict conservation guidelines make it a unique destination for ethical wildlife tourism. Activities on offer include observing penguin colonies and watching seals sunbathing on a sheet of floating ice or whales breaching in the ocean.
Of course, environmentalists will argue that the best course of ethical tourism in this destination is for people not to travel there in the first place, especially as the White Continent has no permanent inhabitants that might benefit from tourism-funded community development. Thankfully, given that many people still opt to travel here, tourism activities in the destination are highly regulated.
Borneo
The world’s third-largest island is known for its beaches and biodiverse rainforest. It is also home to a variety of wildlife that includes orangutans and clouded leopards. Several conservation areas and sanctuaries across Borneo, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia) and Kalimantan (Indonesia), focus on the protection and rehabilitation of endangered wildlife.
Visitors who wish to trek through the rainforests and observe orangutans in the wild can do so with reputable companies such as the Orangutan Foundation, a travel organisation dedicated to the conservation of the animals and their habitat. Avoid companies that allow feeding or touching wildlife, practices that can harm the animals. Travellers can also opt to stay at the eco-certified Borneo Rainforest Lodge, where guests can look for orangutans on guided treks and where visitor numbers are strictly limited to ensure human impact doesn't negatively affect these fuzzy orange apes.
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
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Favourite holiday destination: Bali
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- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
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May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
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May 20, final
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
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Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
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Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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Rating: 3.5/5
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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