Hunt tours shunned

ABTA urges travel firms not to offer hols that exploit animals

TROPHY hunts should no longer be offered to holidaymakers under new animal welfare guidelines from the UK’S biggest travel association.

Also discouraged from sale are canned hunts – where animals are bred in captivity for the purpose of shooting in enclosures – and trips to cub petting farms and lion encounters, which experts say help to fuel the vile industry.

ABTA members should also avoid selling any direct contact with elephants or trips to unlicensed zoos, bear pits, animal fighting, dancing bears, snake charming, rodeos or ritual slaughter.

The Mirror has campaigned to ban imports of animal trophies – now subject to a government consultation.

Eduardo Goncalves of the Campaign

A DAD ordered a blow-up Santa online, expecting it to be 8ft high... but it turned out to be a 25ft giant.

Matty James, 32, said neighbours in Southport, Merseyside, found it all hilarious. And he added: “In the front room, when you opened the curtains, there was a big Santa bum.” to Ban Trophy Hunting said:

“It’s a warped and twisted industry. ABTA’S new guidelines are a welcome step. Our government needs to move ahead with its proposed ban on trophy imports and exports.”

Clare Jenkinson of ABTA said: “The revised guidelines will mean that travel companies can implement animal welfare approaches that reflect latest evidence.”

Animals don’t have a voice so we must speak for them. Please email huntingtrophy consultation@defra.gov.uk saying you support Option 3 for a total ban on trophy hunting imports and exports.