RESPECT JUNGLE GUIDELINES – Take only photos leave only footsteps
Our Respect Jungle Guidelines are designed to help you understand and enjoy your time in the jungle in an environmentally sensitive and respectful way. Lets help protect this fragile ecosystem so your children and grand children can enjoy this natural wonder for many years to come!
Respect Wildlife – Keep wild animals wild!
Never feed wild animals or birds.
- Feeding wildlife damages their health alters natural behaviours, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Store food and rubbish securely. Wild animals have adapted over time to the food found in nature. Human food can make animals sick.
- Feeding can also make animals reliant on humans for food, which may lead to aggressive behaviour.
- Keep your food and wastes in a secure container. Plastic bags are not secure, animals can easily rip these open
Observe wildlife from a distance.
- Do not follow or approach wild animals. Keep a respectable distance (5 metres) and if the animal shows signs of fear or aggressiveness, back off immediately and give the animal plenty of space to move on.
- Avoid chasing or following wildlife that is attempting to escape.
- Keep watching times to a reasonable length to avoid stressing the animals.
- Move slowly, quietly, and in full view to avoid scaring or stressing animals.
Avoid touching wilds animals.
- To minimise the spread of disease to wild animals, familiarisation with humans and for your own safety from injury and bites
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, and raising young. Touching nests or young animals may cause their parents to abandon them.
- Report any injured animals to the local land managers. Do not attempt to handle the animal.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
All native plants, animals, geological features, historical and cultural remains are protected by law in national parks. Ensure that they remain undisturbed.
Avoid activities with large groups
Large groups have a greater impact and affects the natural experience for both the groups and other park users
Stay on the track!
Tracks are carefully designed to allow people to visit natural environments while minimising the impact on the environment. Staying on track minimises erosion, limits spreading of diseases and weeds, and helps you from getting lost
Dispose of Waste Properly
- “Pack it in, Pack it out.” Inspect your campsite and rest areas for rubbish and spilled food.
- Pack and carry out all rubbish and leftover food including organics.
- Do not burn or bury rubbish. Rubbish that is half-burned or buried will attract animals and make a site unattractive to other visitors
- Be careful not to drop rubbish while walking on tracks.
- When available use established toilet facilities.
- In other situations, carry a trowel and deposit solid human waste in cat holes dug in topsoil – usually 10-15cm deep and at least 100m from water, camp and tracks. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.
- Pack out all hygiene products in a suitable container.
- Be careful of improper cigarette butt disposal. Take all cigarette butts out with you.
- Plan meals to avoid generating messy, smelly rubbish. It is critical to wildlife that we pack out kitchen waste and leftover food. Don’t count on a fire to dispose of it. Rubbish that is half-burned or buried will attract animals and make a site unattractive to other visitors. Overlooked rubbish is litter, and litter is not only ugly — it can also be deadly to the wildlife.
- Animals scavenging a meal from a tasty smelling morsel can ingest bits of dropped food packaging damaging their digestive system. Plastic six-pack holders and plastic bags kill birds, fish and animals. Fishing lines, lures and nets ensnare, kill, injure and maim wildlife, so be careful not to leave any behind in rivers or streams. Pack in plastic bags to carry your rubbish out (and maybe someone else’s).
- Before moving on from a camp or resting place, search the area for “micro-rubbish” such as bits of food and rubbish, including cigarette butts and organic litter such as fruit peel, egg and nut shells.
General Wildlife Conservation Guidelines
Sumatra Adventure Holidays adopts the following ethical conservation practices in its business, striving to be the most sustainable ethical ecotourism business in Sumatra.
- Direct Support for Wildlife Conservation Programs: Includes monetary or in-kind donations or volunteer support.
- Strong Educational Programs: Tours educate travelers (and ideally local residents) about issues impacting wildlife, the environment, and local communities.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: Partners actively reduce waste, greenhouse pollution, and other negative impacts of tours.
- Patronage of Local Businesses: Partners use local guides and locally-owned services, accommodations, and restaurants wherever possible.
- Responsible trekking practices. Any user of recreation lands has a responsibility to clean up before he or she leaves. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for rubbish or spilled foods. Pack out all rubbish and kitchen waste, including leftover food.