Wildlife tourism: Holiday giants including TUI and TripAdvisor profiting from animal cruelty
I passed numerous elephants chained in solitary confinement. The fact they were shaking back and forth and only doing repetitive movements disturbed me. They looked like they were in deep distress.
JANE DALTON: ‘Some of the world’s best known names in travel… are accused of profiting from animal cruelty by promoting attractions worldwide where animals may be caused to suffer behind the scenes to make them compliant for holidaymakers. Which? Travel, which researched 10 holiday firms, said many were making grand-sounding pledges on animal welfare that were ultimately empty promises. The consumer group said its findings included: Expedia… TripAdvisor… Trailfinders… Riviera Travel… Which? Travel says it discovered that TUI – formerly Thomson Holidays – was selling elephant rides in Laos, near Thailand, even though its website said rides and shows were stressful for the animals and harmed their wellbeing.
Separately, TUI was also promoting a tour that included the controversial Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka until Which? investigated – when it took it down… A popular travellers’ blog last month urged people never to visit Pinnawala, reporting: “I quickly became horrified at how these elephants were treated. I passed numerous elephants chained in solitary confinement… the fact they were shaking back and forth and only doing repetitive movements disturbed me. They looked like they were in deep distress.” Elephants were chained by their legs under water, unable to move around, some even forced to lie in the water and threatened with violence if they tried to get up…
However, both Expedia and TripAdvisor are still selling tickets to Pinnawala, and TripAdvisor allows reviews and photos of it. Expedia’s website even claims: “Watch local mahouts – elephant handlers – as they take care of these magnificent creatures.” Which? also said Expedia was selling tickets to a Thailand spectacle, Phuket FantaSea, that featured tigers jumping through hoops of fire, the report said, and that tourists could also bottle-feed cubs there. “Don’t miss the chance to hold a tiger cub,” Expedia’s website still says… Groups that have previously investigated such shows, including Animals Asia, have found evidence of animals being beaten with sticks and metal hooks and having their teeth and claws painfully removed to be taught these “tricks”. Tigers are naturally afraid of fire and will avoid it’. SOURCE…
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