LONDON, October 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
With World Animal Day fast approaching, World Animal Protection
has announced the amplification of its global movement to reduce
tourist demand for cruel animal entertainment attractions. Its
latest, the Elephant-friendly Tourist Pledge, petitions the travel
industry to stop promoting and selling elephant rides and
shows.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151002/273403 )
Although a popular tourist activity, elephant rides are the
consequence and cause of immense suffering for the animals. Taken
from their mothers when young, elephant calves are isolated,
starved and beaten until their spirits are broken in a barbaric
training method known as "the crush".
These baby elephants often suffer from bloody wounds inflicted
during these beatings, and the great trauma they endure stays with
them throughout their lives, and can leave them suffering from
post-traumatic stress disorder.
63 travel companies across the world have committed to stop
selling elephant rides and shows following World Animal Protection
approaches.This includes The Travel Corporation, which features
major brands Contiki Holidays and Trafalgar. G Adventures,
the world's largest small-group adventure travel company has also
made this commitment.
Kate Nustedt, Director of Wildlife at World Animal Protection
says: "We have made progress, but some of the best known names in
the travel industry are still behind the curve on animal welfare
and appear unwilling to end the promotion of cruel elephant rides
in all their markets.
"We're eager for the chance to work with the industry on
solutions that not only put a stop to cruel elephant rides and
shows, but also ensure that tourists can enjoy seeing elephants in
the wild."
World Animal Protection launched its campaign Wildlife - Not
Entertainers in August 2015, and over
70,000 people have already joined the movement to protect wild
animals and stop them being abused in entertainment.
- On World Animal Day, this Sunday 4 October, World Animal
Protection will be exposing the hidden suffering endured by wild
animals in the tourism industry with an interactive event in
London.
- A lightbox of images is available here.
- World Animal Protection is building a global movement to put
wildlife protection on the agenda and reduce the tourist demand for
cruel animal entertainment attractions. Find out more via this
link.