NEW YORK, July 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- World Animal
Protection, a global animal welfare organization with offices in 14
countries, is praising the decision by JPMorgan Chase to suspend
its advertising campaign featuring direct contact with captive
elephants. The "Plan Yourself Free" campaign for Chase Private
Client featured a couple's direct contact with elephants on a
volunteer vacation. In the ad, the couple are seen washing an
elephant by hand, a harmful, but common practice at some captive
elephant venues. The elephants are also seen walking in a line
holding the tail of the elephant in front, which is not a typical
behavior of mature elephants in the wild, but of elephants who have
been tortured into that behavior. Following discussions with World
Animal Protection, JPMorgan Chase will cease the ads in
July 2019.
"JPMorgan Chase made a responsible decision to remove these ads
which sent a dangerous message that direct contact with wildlife is
acceptable," said World Animal Protection Executive Director
Alesia Soltanpanah. "Elephants
are trained using harsh and cruel methods to perform unnatural
behaviors and interact directly with people in the manner portrayed
in this ad. When people see elephants used in live shows, offered
for rides, used for selfie props, or washing interactions, these
elephants have been cruelly abused and forced to perform these
actions."
"We thank World Animal Protection's leadership for reaching out
to us," said Jeff Pilarcik, a
managing director in marketing at Chase. "While we took great care
in the filming, we learned more about the other side of elephant
tourism and have ended the ad campaign."
World Animal Protection's, Taken for a Ride report found
that up to 550,000 wild animals are exploited in the tourism
industry worldwide. Three out of four venues studied found
conservation and welfare issues including damage physically and
psychologically to elephants. Tourist demand for direct interaction
with elephants such as riding and feeding leads to a lifetime of
abuse. Elephant washing as shown in the ad forces elephants to
remain in water longer than they would naturally and reinforces
demand for elephants in captivity. The constant presence of
strangers requires elephants to be controlled by keepers through
harsh obedience training from a young age that includes severe
restraining, pain and discomfort.
Elephants forced into direct contact with people are anything
but free. Taken from their natural environments and exploited for
entertainment and profits, captive elephants tamed for
entertainment never truly experience a life free from suffering and
cruelty. Close interaction with captive elephants also regularly
leads to injuries and fatalities of keepers and sometimes of
visitors.
Through its Wildlife. Not Entertainers campaign, World Animal
Protection engages with travel companies around the world,
revealing the hidden cruelty behind the scenes at wild animal
entertainment venues, to help bring about a world where animals
live free from suffering.
To date, more than 220 travel companies around the world
including Education First, Thomas
Cook, TripAdvisor, World Expeditions, and Extraordinary
Journeys have ended sales and promotion of elephant rides and shows
by signing World Animal Protection's elephant-friendly pledge or
making a commitment to wildlife-friendly travel policies.
ABOUT WORLD ANIMAL PROTECTION
World Animal Protection
has moved the world to protect animals for more than 50 years.
World Animal Protection works to give animals a better life. The
organization's activities include working with companies to ensure
high standards of welfare for the animals in their care; working
with governments and other stakeholders to prevent wild animals
being cruelly traded, trapped or killed; and saving the lives of
animals and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them in
disaster situations.
World Animal Protection influences decision-makers to put
animals on the global agenda and inspires people to change animals'
lives for the better. More information on World Animal Protection
can be found at: www.worldanimalprotection.us.
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SOURCE World Animal Protection