‘Heartbreaking’ elephant rides to be outlawed
Government seeking ways to ban British holiday companies from selling exploitative practice abroad
‘They are stabbed, beaten and ripped with hooks into mental and physical subjection, and reduced by fear and despair to automatons’
ELEPHANT-RIDING holidays abroad offered by British travel companies may soon become illegal.
Senior Government sources said they were seeking the best legislative route to banning the “appalling” holidays, with plans to hold a consultation into banning them.
British holiday companies currently offer experiences abroad in countries including Sri Lanka, Thailand and India, where travellers can ride elephants or watch them perform tricks.
However, animal rights campaigners argue that these practices are cruel, as elephants are frequently “broken in” by being beaten with steel hooks so they become compliant.
They claim that elephants are often not kept in appropriate enclosures and that the intelligent, sociable animals are, in many cases, kept alone with nothing to do.
More than 3,000 elephants are currently used as tourist attractions in Asia, according to World Animal Protection, with many of these being held in inappropriate conditions including being tethered day and night to 9ftlong chains.
Unsuspecting holidaymakers who travel to wash, feed and take selfies with the elephants are often unknowingly interacting with an abused animal, World Animal Protection added.
Now, the Government is in talks to ban British companies from advertising such trips.
Zac Goldsmith, a minister in both international development and the environment, who has, in the past, spoken out against these “heartbreaking” holidays, met the animal welfare group, Save The Asian Elephants (STAE), last week.
Duncan Mcnair, the chief executive of the group, said the meeting was “encouraging and constructive”.
He added: “The ancient, wondrous Asian elephant now stands at the brink of final extinction, brought so low by the brutal hand of man.
“Much responsibility lies with the travel industry ruthlessly exploiting this gentle creature by what has recently topped a poll as the cruellest of all tourism practices, torturing baby and young elephants snatched from the wild to ‘break their spirits’ for easy exploitation: rides, tricks and selfies. They are stabbed, beaten and ripped with hooks into mental and physical subjection, to lose their minds and reduced by fear and despair to automatons.”
Last month, the British Travel Association (ABTA) deemed these elephant holidays “unacceptable” in its new guidelines.
However, these rules are not enforced, they are simply guidelines and some of the trade body’s members still offer the animal experiences. Mr Mcnair said: “Promises of change by ABTA and travel companies have proved empty over and again. The Asian elephant, now at its final stand, deserves more than blandishments.
“STAE stands for ethical and sustainable tourism – genuine sanctuaries only. It joins many millions in demanding a UK law to ban the advertising, promotion and sale of unethical Asian elephant holidays, before it is too late.” Mr Goldsmith told The Daily Telegraph: “Anyone who has seen videos exposing the way young elephants are cruelly ‘broken’ to be made ready for tourist experiences will have been heartbroken and appalled. So I strongly urge the Association of British Travel Agents to encourage its members not to work with holiday companies who sell these experiences.
“I would also urge tourists to only visit welfare-friendly attractions and report any concerns they have about the treatment of elephants to their UK tour operator or travel agent once they return home.” Instead of riding, washing or feeding elephants in dubious conditions, campaigners hope that in future the creatures will be moved to sanctuaries. Tourists will still be able to enjoy seeing the rare animals, but from an appropriate distance.
Dr Chris Draper, head of animal welfare and captivity at the Born Free Foundation, said: “It is vital that we stop thinking of direct contact with elephants, such as riding them or washing them, or watching elephant performances in captivity, as harmless fun. In reality, such practices are unnatural, unnecessary and riddled with cruelty.”