The name Laro was inspired by meeting a little elephant in Nairobi, Kenya by the name Larro. This special orphan made a tremendous recovery from her traumatic past. Her caretakers even consider her to be a ‘mini-matriarch’ that diligently cares and tends to the other orphans. Now she is well on her way to reintegrating back into nature. This elephant’s story helps to embody Laro’s mission in ending the exploitation of wildlife for tourism both in captivity and in nature.

Laro firmly believes that all animals deserve to be treated with respect and that the tourism industry can be a force for good. Becoming informed and empowered travelers means we have the ability to shift the industry to more ethical practices for wildlife. Laro is dedicated to developing and sharing robust resources for travelers to become a part of that global shift, ensuring that all animals are valued and respected.

My vision for Laro grew from the jarring experiences I had from regrettably working in zoos. I saw what animal exploitation looks like in the name of ticket sales. For too many years I fell short. Now those memories of visiting zoos, circuses, and dolphinariums are my influence in combating wildlife exploitation. Today I work to inspire folks to connect with wildlife where both humans and animals benefit. I stand proud to ensure that together we end the exploitation of wildlife for tourism.

– Milo Putnam