Campaigners are meeting the Government today to urge it to implement an Act that was passed last year, aimed at banning adverts for unethical animal tourist attractions.
Representatives from the Low-Welfare Act coalition will meet with Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliament Under-Secretary in the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and her officials.
They want the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023, which will outlaw domestic adverts for cruel tourism practices across the world, to come into force.
The coalition is being led by Save the Asian Elephants (STAE) and consists of other animal protection organisations around the world, who want to ‘push the Government to finally implement’ the Act ‘without delay’.
The coalition said: “Having received Royal Assent by The King in September 2023, it has sat in the statute books for over a year without any steps being taking to enable the legislation. The Act aims to outlaw domestic adverts for brutal animal-related tourism practices across the world. With a global reach, this landmark legislation holds the possibility of helping numerous species, including elephants and big cats, suffering in barbaric conditions for tourism.”
STAE was founded by lawyer Duncan McNair in 2014 and his campaigning led him to be named Legal Hero of the Year 2024 by The Law Society of England & Wales last month.
Duncan said: “Many holidaymakers are unaware that every year millions of animals are exploited, harmed and killed in tourism across the world. Much of the brutality threatens the survival of the planet’s most iconic species – elephants, apes, big cats, bears, dolphins, ostriches and exotic birds as well as vulnerable horses, donkeys, camels and many others.”
“Early action by the Government to implement the Act and to enforce it robustly is a crucial step towards the survival of numerous species and their terrain and the wellbeing of our planet.
“We hope Government will agree with us as to the precise activities that should be proscribed under the new Act and accept the huge amount of evidence that we have gathered of how and where these activities are taking place and why they are ruinous to animals and humans. Government must act now before it is too late.”
One holidaymaker, Helen Costigan, witnessed her sister being killed by an elephant at a tourist attraction in Thailand.
She said: “My sister Andrea aged 20 suffered the most brutal, violent death in 2000 when attacked in front of me by a tortured and maddened elephant at a tourist ‘attraction’ in Thailand called Nong Nooch.
“That venue like so many is dangerous and cruel. It is flourishing in this horrible unregulated market and still today is promoted by 120 UK travel companies.
“There are 300 other elephant venues like it advertised in the UK today by a shocking 1,200 companies. I call on our government now to support Save The Asian Elephants and the enormous coalition of charities it leads, and the tens of millions who have supported the rapid passage of the Act into law, by implementing and enforcing these measures without delay.”
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Representatives from the Low-Welfare Act coalition will meet with Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliament Under-Secretary in the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and her officials.
They want the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023, which will outlaw domestic adverts for cruel tourism practices across the world, to come into force.
The coalition is being led by Save the Asian Elephants (STAE) and consists of other animal protection organisations around the world, who want to ‘push the Government to finally implement’ the Act ‘without delay’.
The coalition said: “Having received Royal Assent by The King in September 2023, it has sat in the statute books for over a year without any steps being taking to enable the legislation. The Act aims to outlaw domestic adverts for brutal animal-related tourism practices across the world. With a global reach, this landmark legislation holds the possibility of helping numerous species, including elephants and big cats, suffering in barbaric conditions for tourism.”
STAE was founded by lawyer Duncan McNair in 2014 and his campaigning led him to be named Legal Hero of the Year 2024 by The Law Society of England & Wales last month.
Duncan said: “Many holidaymakers are unaware that every year millions of animals are exploited, harmed and killed in tourism across the world. Much of the brutality threatens the survival of the planet’s most iconic species – elephants, apes, big cats, bears, dolphins, ostriches and exotic birds as well as vulnerable horses, donkeys, camels and many others.”
“Early action by the Government to implement the Act and to enforce it robustly is a crucial step towards the survival of numerous species and their terrain and the wellbeing of our planet.
“We hope Government will agree with us as to the precise activities that should be proscribed under the new Act and accept the huge amount of evidence that we have gathered of how and where these activities are taking place and why they are ruinous to animals and humans. Government must act now before it is too late.”
One holidaymaker, Helen Costigan, witnessed her sister being killed by an elephant at a tourist attraction in Thailand.
She said: “My sister Andrea aged 20 suffered the most brutal, violent death in 2000 when attacked in front of me by a tortured and maddened elephant at a tourist ‘attraction’ in Thailand called Nong Nooch.
“That venue like so many is dangerous and cruel. It is flourishing in this horrible unregulated market and still today is promoted by 120 UK travel companies.
“There are 300 other elephant venues like it advertised in the UK today by a shocking 1,200 companies. I call on our government now to support Save The Asian Elephants and the enormous coalition of charities it leads, and the tens of millions who have supported the rapid passage of the Act into law, by implementing and enforcing these measures without delay.”
The post Campaigners urge ban on travel companies advertising unregulated animal attractions appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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