The Pre-Audit Application is completed by any animal tourism operator seeking Global Humane Certification. The Pre-Audit Application requires detailed information including, but not limited to, the animal collection or biodiversity within the area of operation, species management, land management, facility operations, wildlife tour or excursion protocols, animal safety and security measures, and emergency procedures.

The Pre-Audit Application must be completed prior to the onsite audit of the operation.

During the onsite audit, independent auditors evaluate an operator’s direct and indirect impacts on animal welfare. Extensive examinations based on core principles set the stage for the audit, followed by a set of detailed questions aimed at confirming that the animals within the entity’s range of operation are in receipt of good overall welfare.

The entity seeking certification must conduct business practices that demonstrate a humane responsibility toward the wildlife that these operations may encounter and have the potential to impact.

To assess this as rigorously as possible, the audit reviews the following animal welfare indicators, as applicable for the type of operations:

• Animal Management: A review of the operator’s management of animals within the area of operation, with consideration for factors such as the range or habitat carrying capacity, display of appropriate animal appearance and condition, display of natural animal behaviors with minimal impacts from human activities, good species and population management, an appropriate veterinary intervention plan and disease surveillance.
• Operations: A review of the operator’s daily operations and the potential for impact on animal welfare with consideration for factors such as environmental assessment for infrastructure design and construction, pest management, food waste management, trash disposal and plastic waste, sewage disposal, safe handling of potentially harmful cleaning products, wildlife tour and excursion vehicles, and good veld management.
• Guides and Tour Staff: A review of the operator’s wildlife guides and tour staff including, but not limited to, guides, drivers, trackers and other staff members that are involved in wildlife tours, with consideration for factors such as staff training and qualifications, guest-to-guide ratios, safe distance guidelines and mitigation of impacts to wildlife during tours.
• Water Management: A review of the operator’s water management with consideration for factors such as water source for the animals, water supply security and drought planning protocols.
• Security Measures: A review of the operator’s animal safety and security measures with consideration for factors such as poaching threats, guest security from animals and appropriate fire protection.

In addition to examining the key indicators of animal welfare, the Global Humane Certified™ Ecotourism program is founded upon three essential welfare criteria that must be met:

• Staff Conduct that Promotes Animal Welfare: Staff should be aware of the facility’s protocols and procedures, as well as conduct themselves in a manner that promotes animal welfare.
• No Animal Abuse or Neglect: No observations of willful acts or signs of abuse by any person at the facility (staff or guest) are acceptable. Observations of such acts will automatically result in failure of the audit.
• Access to Water at All Times: For operators who manage an animal collection, the animals must have access to water at all times.