Animal ethnography and a relational approach to sustainability: methodological challenges and opportunities in wildlife tourism

Abstract

We adopted a collaborative research approach involving two tourism scholars, a biologist and a photojournalist to discuss ethnography and sustainability from a posthuman ecofeminist perspective. We focused on ethnography as a potentially fruitful methodology for supporting justice in wildlife tourism. We reviewed the literature on more-than-human methodologies, including emerging studies on animal ethnography, critical legitimacy and science issues. Through two open conversations and thematic analysis, drawing on our collective expertise in academia (tourism and biology), business (tourism), the nonprofit sector (animal and environmental protection and conservation), and photojournalism, we developed a stepwise framework for conducting ethnographic studies to foster just wildlife tourism. Our framework emphasises the need to consider animals’ perspectives on wildlife tourism and promote justice by creating connections with our inner selves, coresearchers, animals, sociocultural and natural tourism contexts, and the public (including actual and potential tourists). This framework contributes to more-than-human methodologies, including tourism ethnography, and can support animal ethnographers’ fieldwork practices. It also contributes to advancing approaches to sustainability by emphasising how broad, in-depth thinking about animals in tourism can nurture a suitable mindset for promoting greater justice in wildlife tourism.