6 Filtered Reviews of Butterfly Paradise
The reviews below were either questionable or violated our site terms. They therefore are not factored into this business's overall star rating.
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This is not vegan friendly. I would give 1 star if allowed.
Keeping animals in captivity is as not vegan. I cannot believe this listening is allowed.
Pros: Should not be listed
Cons: Keeping animals in captivity is not vegan
TimMaddocks
Hi Terry, Your review is not helpful and is a violation of Happy Cows review rules no. 2, and 6. You appear to have missed the point of the word vegan.
"Veg·an
noun
1. a person who does not eat any food derived from animals and who typically does not use other animal products:
adjective
1. eating, using, or containing no food or other products derived from animals:"
Butterfly Paradise was established to raise money from tourism to help poor and vulnerable children in Siem Reap. It also offers Cambodian children and others an opportunity to get up close to nature and to educate them to care for the environment and living things. I am not sure if you have actually visited Butterfly Paradise, but if you haven't, maybe you should before casting judgement.
Tim Maddocks
CEO Butterfly Paradise
PedroVella
Actually Terrys response is very helpful, the establishments response is further evidence why this place should be avoided by vegans, or anyone who cares about ethical tourism
Not vegan :(
Veganism means not eating, wearing, using animals for entertainment, or otherwise using animals to the extent practicable.
I've read two other reviews of this place and it seems that the owner/manager does not understand what is wrong with his restaurant, and this is a real pity.
The exploitation of animals is certainly not vegan. A fine line could be drawn for animal sanctuaries, but obviously, a restaurant that uses animals to attract customers is not an animal sanctuary. Whether it be crocodiles, butterflies, snakes, or fish; none of these animals deserve to be trapped and treated as property.
I would recommend the owner inform himself about veganism (howdoigovegan.com can be a good starting place).
I feel particularly alarmed that HappyCow would allow a restaurant that doubles as a zoo to be listed as vegan. This is a very disappointing development.
This is not a vegan organization and does not deserve to be called vegan. Strangely, it is not possible to give this restaurant less than two stars because it's vegan. As a vegan restaurant it deserves zero stars.
To quote from Gary Francione's 'Veganism as a Moral Imperative:'
"The word “vegan” was coined by Donald Watson in 1944, coinciding with his founding The Vegan Society in Great Britain. Watson was opposed to animal exploitation and, in the first issue of the Society’s newsletter, The Vegan News, he wrote, “We can see quite plainly that our present civilisation is built on the exploitation of animals, just as past civilisations were built on the exploitation of slaves, and we believe the spiritual destiny of man is such that in time he will view with abhorrence the idea that men once fed on the products of animals’ bodies.
"...“Vegan” comes from the beginning and ending letters of the word “vegetarian,” as Watson thought that veganism was the logical place from which vegetarianism stemmed, as well as the point where vegetarianism would ultimately lead. He avoided wearing leather, wool, or silk; and used a fork, rather than a spade, in his gardening to avoid killing worms. Watson was opposed to hunting, fishing, blood sports, and the use of animals in experiments or for testing purposes."
Pros: Not vegan, should not be listed, Animal exploitation is not vegan
Cons: Animals in captivity! :(, crocodiles, snakes, butterflies, fish "massage"
TimMaddocks
Apologies for having misused the word vegan. I have made a request to Happy Cow management to include a new category, ‘Whole Food Plant Based’ so as to avoid offending faithful vegans.
abolitionistvegan
Thank you TimMaddocks. Proper definitions enable us to have a common understanding of a word or a subject. In this case, the misuse has nothing to do with faith, only ethics.
confusion
how is keeping animals in enclosures for entertainment vegan or vegan-friendly... I'm very confused. Is the idea of this listing to keep vegans away?
Pros: nothing, nothing, nothing
Cons: captive animals, captive animals, captive animals
TimMaddocks
Apologies for having misused the word vegan. I have made a request to Happy Cow management to include a new category, ‘Whole Food Plant Based’ so as to avoid offending faithful vegans.
Unfortunately not vegan
Hi Tim,
I appreciate your efforts in making a plant based food at your restaurant.
Yet for me, veganism is more than a diet.
I hope we can come to a mutual understanding.
Pros: Plant based menu
Cons: The place is not a vegan business, Sad to see how they treat animals.
TimMaddocks
Hello Krishanclark-varma, Have you actually visited Butterfly Paradise to see how we treat our animals? We spend a lot of money making sure our animals have a save peaceful life. No need to feel sorry for them.
Plant based food but not a vegan restaurant
Good luck with your plant based food, it’s always good to have more options. But you can’t call yourself a vegan restaurant whilst you offer fish massage and have animals in captivity. It’s a contradiction as veganism is more than just the food that you eat.
Pros: Plant based menu
Cons: Animals in captivity
VeganFoodQuest
Points +1474
come here for fish massage and to see crocodiles in a stagnant pond - Edit
there is no way we would eat here...
Read moreif you think that 'fish massage' where fish are kept in a pond to eat the dead skin from tourists feet is ok, and you are happy to see crocodiles in a stagnant pond, then come here for a vegan burger.
for us, we could never support anywhere that treats animals in this way, and although they may serve vegan food, this can never be a vegan restaurant due to treating animals like this.
if the owners read this and wish to reach out and discuss this further we are happy to meet and we live in Siem Reap.
BTW we have given 2 stars as this was the lowest option for a 'vegan' restaurant. we wanted to give zero stars or less...
Pros: nothing, nothing, nothing
Cons: fish massage, crocodiles in stagnant pool, snakes in a tank
TimMaddocks
Thank you for your review. It is true that one small part of the crocodile enclosure is a stagnant green pond, the rest of the enclosure is filtered through a living bog filter. It just so happens that the crocodile likes to hang out in the stagnant pond. Who are we to judge the creature, it has freedom to choose between clean clear water and stagnant water.
Read moreFish massage is not harmful to the fish, in fact they also make a choice as to whether to eat dead skin of your feet or keep well away. Some people appreciate the opportunity to have a touchy ticklish experience with animals, both man and animal have the choice whether to enter into this relationship.
Our snakes are all rescued from becoming peoples dinner. They are well fed and live a peaceful life away from dinner plates.
We appreciate that some people do not like to see animals in enclosures, but the reality is that unless some are kept in enclosures most people would never get to see the animal except on a video. When people have close encounters with animals, they can better appreciate the beauty of their personalities and design, encouraging them to contribute to their preservation rather than destruction.
We hope our vegan brothers and sisters will come and make their own opinion on whether Butterfly Paradise is a great place to enjoy vegan food or not.
VeganFoodQuest
Thank you for your reply.
Read moreWe still stick by what we first said and that as vegans we could not support your restaurant.
Fish pedicure or fish massage is not vegan.
Both PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and VIVA (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals) do not endorse this practice, and in fact say that it is far from ethical and something that should be avoided.
We could discuss your claims about the other animals that you are holding in captivity, but I don’t think we’re going to agree there either.
You may serve vegan food, but your organisation is far from being vegan as animals are being exploited for human pleasure.
TimMaddocks
You seem to have confused the meaning of Vegan and merged it with PETA and VIVA. Vegan is one thing, PETA and VIVA are another. We did not claim to be part of the latter two. By dictionary definition, our restaurant is vegan, serving no animals products.
Read moreVeganFoodQuest
I’m not confused. Your food is vegan. Your organisation is not. Stop exploiting animals.
Read morePedroVella
It's quite simple , no credible vegan will visit your establishment while you keep animals in captivity.
Read moreAnd a fish massage ?the lowest form of tourism is animal exploitation, welcome to the club
#unethical
TimMaddocks
Apologies for having misused the word vegan. I have made a request to Happy Cow management to include a new category, ‘Whole Food Plant Based’ so as to avoid offending faithful vegans.
Read moreGuest