The animals suffering for your holiday

With many tourist attractions causing needless torture for animals across hotspots abroad, Closer looks at how we can help avoid it this summer...

here was T widespread shock and outrage last year when a video was released of workers at a German zoo beating baby elephants to make them perform tricks for holidaymakers.

The animals were attacked with iron rods and whipped into submission – with one calf screaming out loudly in pain as it was dragged around by the neck by its trainer. The damning footage was filmed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) at Hanover Zoo.

But although the clip caused uproar among animal lovers, zoo director Andreas Casdorff claimed the elephants needed to be trained “to establish a relationship between humans and animals”. Shockingly, prosecutors concluded the zoo keepers acted within the law.

ABUSE & NEGLECT

However, the elephants at Hanover Zoo aren’t the only ones to suffer for the benefit of tourists.

For, while we pride ourselves on being a nation of animal lovers, with comparatively strict animal welfare laws in the UK, many of us will unwittingly encourage the ill-treatment of animals while on holiday. That could be by visiting zoos and aquariums or posing with sedated creatures for selfies on beaches in countries that may not have such tight legislation against suffering.

Closer spoke to Humane Society International, who are campaigning to urge people to make sure that their holiday entertainment doesn’t cause suffering to innocent animals.

Spokesperson Wendy Higgins says, “When travelling abroad, it’s fun to experience the local culture, but not at the expense of animal welfare.

“Sadly, many tourist activities still use animals as ‘attractions’ and this often leads to animal abuse and neglect.

“For example, elephants, donkeys, dolphins, whales, monkeys and other animals can all be cruelly exploited for tourist entertainment. And, without realising it, holidaymakers can inadvertently find themselves fuelling activities that require animals to be brutalised and tortured.”

Wendy adds, “The most effective way to stop the cruelty is to refuse to take part, be that by not attending bull fights in Spain – in which bulls are tormented and killed – or not posing for a selfie with a subdued animal.

“The best way to see these awesome animals is to leave exploitation off your itinerary and view them in the wild in their natural habitat instead.

“Safaris, nature walks or wildlife tours make perfect alternatives as not only will tourists be left happy, but so will the animals.”

Here’s our guide on what to avoid and why…