Certain vendors in the streets of Prague have exotic animals like owls and snakes available for paid pictures. However, they usually do not have handling permits and do not handle the animals ethically, keeping them outside all day in non-ideal conditions and for long hours, stressing out and injuring the animals, putting tourists at risk of injury as well. When these vendors are busted, they are fined but move to another city, and the cycle of animal abuse starts again. Most of these vendors are foreigners, allowing them to travel to different cities and exploit animals.

The Enjoy Respect Prague campaign launched in 2022 addresses the issue of animal cruelty in the streets of Prague. That year, the city rescued 30 animals. Sometimes, the people who launched the campaign still see the abuse of wild animals at the hands of vendors from their office windows. There is a time and place to take a selfie with an animal with trained professionals who handle animals ethically. However, a majority of the vendors attracting tourists are not trained professionals, thus not legit.

Although the Enjoy Respect Prague campaign was launched as an initiative against unethical animal selfies, other concerns have been raised by the campaign. For example, concerns relating to tourists being too loud during late hours, vehicles such as scooters being parked in walkways, and general disrespect towards the local population are also addressed. Prague City Tourism is raising awareness of these issues to ensure tourists respect the city and the locals.

Sources:

“Coming to Prague? Don’t Take Paid Street Selfies with Animals!” Radio Prague International, 25 Aug. 2023, english.radio.cz/coming-prague-dont-take-paid-street-selfies-animals-8792352.

“Enjoy Respect Prague.” Prague City Tourism, 5 Aug. 2024, prague.eu/en/enjoy-respect.

Written by: Mikayla Faires