What to remember when you want to see animals on your visit to Lapland

Tourists and travel agents are increasingly more interested in animal well-being. But how to know if the animals encountered during your travels in Finland are doing well? 

It’s not always easy to find ethical animal encounters. Unethical behavior – and poor animal care – can also be encountered in Finland. 

For example, in the summer of 2024 we reported of the problems with husky safari operations in Lapland. According to information obtained by SEY, many of the sled dogs spend almost half a year in outdoor cages without proper exercise or stimuli. The care received by the huskies can be inadequate, and in worst cases, the feeding and living conditions are completely unsuitable.  

The traveller needs to be scrupulous

Check these points when you meet animals on your travels: 

• What are the living conditions of the animals?
• Are they able to carry out their species-typical behavior?
• Are you able to see the dwellings of the animals?
• How is the source of the animals communicated?

• How are the animals treated?
• Is there a valid certificate proving the well-being of the animals?

Poor animal care can also be encountered in Finland. For example, many sled dogs in husky safaris spend almost half a year in outdoor cages without proper exercise or stimuli. The care received by the huskies can be inadequate, and in worsts cases, the feed and living conditions are completely unsuitable. Photo: iStock 

A certificate can help identify a responsible tour operator 

Look for a certificate of responsibility when choosing a tour provider to ensure the well-being of used animals.

A tourist in Finland can endorse, for instance, an operator with a Green activities certificate. Green activities is a tailor made responsibility scheme and certificate for program and adventure services. Eligibility requires passing certain criteria and regular auditing visits. 

The Green activities certificate used to include only environmental and societal responsibilities, but currently acknowledges the well-being of sled dogs and reindeer. Only a fraction of the companies providing husky safaris are currently certified. 

In practice, a company with a Green activities certification is committed to taking care that their animals can engage in species-typical behaviour, are fed well and are able to rest in a pleasant dwelling. 

The criteria for the Green activities certificate is based on the UN sustainable development goals. An ethically operating company that provides husky safaris can apply for the certificate themselves, and an outside independent body will make the decision on awarding it. 

Travelers who want to go on a husky safari should prefer a tour operator that is committed to a responsible tourism certificate. It’s important for the traveller to remember that no certificate is infallible. Photo: iStock 

The criteria for the certificates matters

The criteria for the Green activities certificates vary depending on the species in question. A company offering husky safaris is committed to 31 mandatory criteria involving the well-being of the animals. A company employing reindeer in its activities, on the other hand, commits to 40 mandatory criteria.

According to the Green activities certificate criteria, each dog has to have a safe and adequately heated and ventilated kennel, their pens are cleaned out daily, they have 24/7 supervision and they are exercised regularly year round according to the prevailing weather, for example. The criteria addressing reindeer references, among other things, that all reindeer in the use of tourism services need to have a yearly possibility for free roaming in the nature, and any enclosure they’re in must have an opportunity for them to withdraw from the visibility of humans.

In addition, the companies gain points for various improvements in the animals’ well-being, such as keeping the dogs unleashed and providing pens that are 1.5 times the legal minimum.

For more information on the criteria, visit the Green activities certificate website.

In addition to the Green activities certificate, there are other certifications that contain criteria for animal well-being. In many of these certifications, only one auditing visit will be conducted, and, in some cases, no on-site auditing will be done.

In order to assess the well-being of the animals, it is always necessary to conduct on-site auditing and species specific criteria.

Several tourism industry certificates include general animal welfare criteria. In many of these, only one audit visit is made to the company, or no audits are made at all. Photo: iStock

What to do if the criteria of a certified travel company are not fulfilled? 

It’s important for the traveller to remember that no certificate is infallible. In case you encounter failings in the well-being of the animals, you should contact the issuing body of the specific certificate. In addition, you can take action according to the directions below.

What to do if the animals are in poor conditions or you encounter animal abuse?

If you suspect the animal is in need of help, act. It is in everyone’s interest that you express your concern even if you aren’t sure if a specific law is being infringed on.

• If the situation requires immediate intervention call the Finnish emergency number 112 
• If the animals’ well-being is endangered please contact the animal protection services such as an animal welfare authority, whose contact information are available on the specific town’s or municipality’s website under the search term “animal protection” (“eläinsuojelu”) or “veterinarian” (“eläinlääkäri”) or by calling the municipality’s switchboard
• In non urgent cases you can also file an animal welfare notification (in Finnish).  
• Additional information for emergencies here (in English).  

A responsible traveler should avoid destinations with wild animals – especially when there is no reliable information about the conditions of the animals. Photo: Rarin Lee/shutterstock.com 

Looking for an animal friendly trip?  

Avoid these for starters: 

• Circus performances and shows with performing animals 
• Venues that enable petting and or photographing animals in captivity at close quarters 
• Aquariums that keep whales and dolphins 
• Zoos or zoo-like venues, e.g. crocodile and elephant parks, where the origin of the animals is unknown 
• Civet cafes 
• Husky safaris who can not prove that they’re operating in an ethical manner, e.g. via certifications. 
• Horse treks that don’t impose weight limits on riders, or where the horses aren’t able to express their species specific behavior.