Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais and Chris Packham are backing Animals Asia’s call on the new UK government to effectively implement animal welfare law and for ‘welfare whistleblowing’ Brits to report cruel tourist attractions. 

1 in 3 Brits (33%) - that’s a huge 17.3million (1) - have witnessed animal cruelty at a tourist attraction abroad, reveals Animals Asia on the launch of its new campaign today (Monday 22nd July 2024), with around 1.7million (9%) saying it ruined their holiday (2). The campaign, which launches as families start heading off on summer holiday, is calling on the new government to implement the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act which was passed last September to protect animals at tourist attractions around the world.

The new poll, commissioned by international animal welfare charity Animals Asia, shows that more than half (51%) of the 1 in 3 Brits who witnessed animal cruelty on holiday felt guilty about the animals and nearly a third (29%) wanted to do something to stop it. 1 in 10 (9%) said it ruined their holiday.  

TV presenter, animal rights campaigner and supporter of Animals Asia, Chris Packham, said: "It’s completely pointless to pass a law to protect animals if it doesn't work in practice. Until the new government agrees the list of activities that are banned, it'll have no meaningful impact on preventing animal suffering around the world.  But thankfully British holidaymakers can still make a difference this summer with the power of the pound in their pockets.  Refusing to spend their money on tourist attractions where animals are suffering or exploited sends a clear message. No five-minute thrill we get from an encounter with an animal is worth a lifetime of misery for them. Animals Asia is also calling on anyone who witnesses this kind of cruelty to report it on their website.”

The UK law, a world first, aims to crack down on sales to cruel tourist attractions abroad by making it illegal for British travel companies to promote or sell them if they do not meet suitable animal welfare standards.  However,  the previous government failed to suitably clarify parameters and specify activities that do not meet these standards, and are therefore banned (3), in order to enable implementation of the act.  This has meant a failure  to prevent animal suffering and potentially ruined holidays ahead as Brits start to head off overseas this summer.

Holidaymaker Becky Kummer (45), from West London, was visiting Japan with a friend in 2019 when, on a day trip to Himeji Castle, two upsetting encounters with animal suffering left a lasting impression. Becky says: “I saw a polar bear kept in the most awful conditions in Himeji City Zoo. I refused to buy a ticket, but from outside I could see this beautiful polar bear being kept in 35 degree heat in a tiny cage, with a concrete floor, which was no more than ten metres long. It had no company, no source of distraction and was obviously distressed - pacing back and forth and shaking its head. It was heartbreaking to see such a majestic animal reduced to this state for entertainment. Until that point, I’d been having a fun day and it really made me sad. When I looked at recent reviews online, it seems the polar bear is still there and it has ruined a lot of other people’s trips too. I still think about it myself to this day.

“Even as a huge animal lover, I've been at fault myself before. Many years ago I took an elephant ride which I really regret. At the time I didn't realise they’re often subjected to brutal treatment to make them docile enough for rides. If I’d known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have contributed to that suffering.

“Having a new law that works to stop this sort of thing would be great and the government needs to make that happen as soon as possible. It can feel hopeless sometimes, but I hope one day in the future, people will look back on these cruel practices with horror and disbelief.” (4)

Comedian, actor, writer, presenter and Animals Asia supporter, Stephen Fry, said: "Animals Asia’s survey showed that more than three-quarters of the public would be put off from booking with a travel agent who sold tickets to tourist attractions where animals are mistreated.  The government now needs to properly implement the law passed last year to ensure that these overwhelming views of the public are taken into consideration and that such ticket sales would be prohibited. So do join us in the campaign to make sure that this can happen."

Jill Robinson, CEO, Animals Asia said: “All too often British holidaymakers unwittingly see animals at tourist attractions who’ve been snatched from their natural habitats and families.  These poor creatures are forced into a lifetime of suffering - malnourished, locked up or beaten if they don’t perform for tourists. We work tirelessly to rescue bears, elephants, dogs and monkeys from circuses, zoos and other attractions where they live in unimaginable cruelty.  But we also need governments to do their bit. The new UK government needs to make this law a reality so that animals can be saved from these terrible conditions. We’re a nation of animal lovers and we know Brits don’t want animals to suffer for their entertainment.”

Comedian, actor, writer, director and Animals Asia supporter, Ricky Gervais, said: “This is the first summer holiday season since the law was passed last year and yet it will achieve nothing to prevent animals suffering at tourist attractions this year. What a waste and what a terrible cruelty to animals all over the world. We must all be extra vigilant this summer and help Animals Asia crack down on cruelty to animals at tourist attractions by reporting anything we see to them. Then they can put pressure on the new government to implement this law passed last year, and finally put an end to ticket sales to these horrendous attractions. The charity is already doing all they can to rescue and save these animals – now we must do our bit to help."

Alan French, CEO of Thomas Cook, said: “For many of our customers, especially families, we know that visiting attractions when they’re away is an important part of their holiday and they rely on us to help them choose which ones are the best to visit. When customers choose from our range of attractions they know that we’ve taken the highest welfare standards into consideration before we offer them. We welcome the new legislation around low welfare activities and look forward to seeing it implemented in full soon.”

Animals Asia has published its top five tips for British animal lovers abroad (5)

1. Ask about animal welfare before you book
2. Don’t visit zoos, parks or sanctuaries that promote animals as entertainment
3. Observe the condition of the animals
4. There’s no such thing as an ethical animal selfie, or a safe one
5. Be a ‘welfare whistleblower’ and report poor conduct at tourist attractions at [email protected]

 Animals Asia  is calling on ‘welfare whistleblowing’ Brits to report cruel tourist attractions to the charity, who will create a dossier of evidence to put pressure on the new government to implement the  law.  Holidaymakers can find out more about how to become an animal welfare whistleblower and join the fight at animalasia.org. 

Animals Asia helps to end the suffering of animals at tourist attractions in Asia in a variety of ways including: an ethical tourism experience with visits to its rescued bear sanctuary in Vietnam; supporting the Yok Don National Park to operate Vietnam’s first ethical elephant tourism programme with the government; rescuing and caring for elephants previously used in riding tourism; and working with the Vietnamese Government to pass laws and regulations to end cruel animal activities at tourist attractions, including providing evidence through investigations and reports.  In 2020 Hanoi Central Circus stopped using elephants and bears in performances and handed over their last bears to the Animals Asia sanctuary.
 

Animals Asia would like to see the government’s list of banned activities at tourist attractions include: animals being made to perform, such as riding bicycles, jumping through hoops or unnatural tricks such as hand stands; animals confined in uncomfortable spaces that don't allow them to act naturally or hurt them, such as small cages and pools or being chained to the ground under the sun to make money; tourists being allowed to feed wild animals or interact with them; elephant rides; and trophy hunting (3).

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. From ONS UK population estimates - one third of adults aged 20+ from the ‘mid 2022 edition of this dataset’ = 17.3m
2. Fieldwork for this research was conducted by Opinium Research from April 26th to April 30th, 2024. The sample size comprised 2000 UK adults and the results were weighted to ensure that results are nationally representative
3. Trip advisor reviews of Himeji City Zoo including of the polar bear suffering in a small cage that Becky Kummer witnessed on holiday in Japan
4. Full list of activities Animal Asia would like to see banned at tourist attractions abroad: Animals Asia welcomes ABTA's list of unacceptable activities, in addition it would like the below banned:  

• Dolphin parks and any kind of setting where all cetaceans (aquatic mammals, such as whales, dolphins, porpoises) are confined to small areas lacking natural features, allowed to be fed by visitors without the freedom to choose how to spend their time and the opportunity to engage in natural behaviours. (ABTA's manual for cetaceans is currently under review.)
• Circus performances involving domestic and wild animals as these animals are subjected to poor-quality, restricted environments. They endure stress during performances, live in unnatural conditions, and suffer physical and mental abuse at the hands of their trainers.
• Elephant rides as these animals are compelled to work under strenuous environmental conditions.
• Civet coffee farms, where civets (small mammals with a cat like appearance) are denied the opportunity to live and behave naturally and are subjected to nutritionally deficient and unbalanced diets.
• Cockfighting, which subjects animals to highly stressful events, often resulting in untreated or improperly treated injuries and death for those forced to fight for entertainment.
• Horse-drawn carriages, where horses are deprived of natural behaviours, subjected to stress from loud noises and close public interactions, and endure physical and mental abuse from trainers or owners. Additionally, these animals are forced to work in harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures and humidity.

5. Top five tips for animal welfare whistleblowers

• Ask about animal welfare before you book: Don’t give your business to companies that allow animal suffering - before you book ask your travel operator if they allow close contact with wild animals. If they say yes, walk away.
• Don’t visit zoos, parks or sanctuaries that promote animals as entertainment: Wild animals should not be in cages, chained up or used in any form of entertainment, close contact or riding experiences. This includes things like captive dolphins, riding elephants and crocodile farms. Many have been purposefully taken from the wild, and not rescued as is often publicised. 
• Observe the condition of the animals: From a safe distance, look at the animals involved in tourism activities - are they thin, can you even see their ribs? Do they have sores or cuts on their skin or overgrown hooves or claws, do they seem exhausted, terrified or suffering from disease or illness?
• There’s no such thing as an ethical animal selfie, or a safe one: Only take photos of animals in their natural environment, free to roam, and at a safe distance. Don’t feed wild animals, or use food to lure them closer so that you can take pictures.
• Report and publicise poor conduct from tour operators

If a tour guide encourages you to hug, touch or hold a wild animal, report this to the tour company and hold them to account on social media or review sites if they don’t act. And report the incident to Animals Asia at [email protected].

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