🐾 Welcome to Ethical Explorer: Why I’m Dedicating My Life to Protecting Wildlife - By Pete Garside

Pete Garside - Founder

Hi, I’m Pete Garside and I’m thrilled to welcome you to Ethical Explorer Project, a platform born from both passion and experience, and driven by a deep commitment to truth in wildlife tourism.

I’ve spent over a decade working in the field of wildlife conservation and environmentalism. From hands-on field research to zoo animal welfare, to grassroots community projects and wildlife education, I’ve seen the many faces of this industry. Some inspiring. Some heartbreaking.

My journey began in the city of Manchester, UK, where I studied Wildlife Conservation and Zoo Biology. But in truth, it started long before university. As a kid, I was never indoors. I’d spend every spare moment outside, climbing trees, turning over stones, watching birds, tracking foxes. I didn’t just love nature, I needed it. And that passion only grew.

Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside some of the most dedicated conservationists on the planet. I’ve also been fortunate to turn my love for wildlife into storytelling, I’m a published children’s author, using books to inspire the next generation to care for our planet’s most vulnerable creatures.

But not every story I’ve encountered in wildlife tourism has been a happy one.

Like many others, I’ve been a victim of false conservation claims. I’ve seen first-hand how places that promote themselves as sanctuaries exploit animals for profit. I’ve volunteered at centres that preached education but prioritised entertainment. I’ve met animals caged, starved, and mistreated, all behind a mask of eco-friendliness. And it broke my heart.

That’s why I started The Ethical Explorer Project.

This platform is about pulling back the curtain and investigating wildlife tourism with honesty, compassion, and clarity. It’s about shining a light on the organisations doing it right: the true sanctuaries, the hardworking teams that put animal welfare and conservation before profit. These are the people who deserve our support. And I want to make sure they get it.

At the heart of Ethical Explorer Project is a deep respect for the individuals and organisations that fight every day to protect animals from harm. My goal is not to criticise for the sake of it, but to elevate ethical practices and help traveler's, volunteers, and donors make informed, compassionate choices.

This is a new chapter in my life, a personal mission to give back to the animals that have given me so much joy, purpose, and meaning. Through reviews, storytelling, and collaboration, I hope to be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.

If you love animals, if you care about truth, and if you believe that travel can be a force for good, then you’re in the right place.

Thanks for being here. Let’s explore ethically, together.

– Pete