Nearly 1.2m back calls to end Asian elephant horror

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Campaigners at Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) charity, which started the Change.org petition, want a ban on UK firms marketing holiday venues that exploit elephants. Asian elephants are critically endangered yet still captured in the wild while infants and brutalised into being submissive showpieces at tourist attractions in countries like Thailand and India.

These venues are funded in part by British visitors, tempted into them by the 1,200 UK travel firms that offer tickets to the horror shows.

Duncan McNair, CEO of STAE, said the Government needs to act now before it’s too late for these magnificent creatures.

Speaking to the Express, he said: “Save The Asian Elephants’ change.org petition has soared above one million signatures towards 1.2 million – the largest in history for any animal species.

“Petitions aligning with STAE’s now number 33 million supporters.

“The world worries deeply about the survival and protection of the iconic Asian elephants and their babies from brutal tourism, so much generated by a reckless UK market where thousands of tourists, as well as elephants, are killed in pursuit of rampant profits.”

Travellers from all over the world visit Thailand to demand selfies with these exotic animals or clamber aboard their huge backs to ride through the jungle.

Elephant-related tourism in Thailand is a £415-million-a-year industry and is based on snatching calves from their mothers before breaking their spirits with sickening cruelty so they submit to their mahouts (owners).

The fate of Asian elephants, whose surviving population is barely five percent that of African elephants, is now in the hands of Rishi Sunak’s Government.

Earlier this year, the Conservative party confirmed that a series of policies including a ban on the promotion of holiday venues abroad where elephants are abused have been put on pause.

But the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill, tabled by Angela Richardson, is due for a Second Reading in the House of Commons on February 3 next year.

Animal Rights campaigner McNair, who started his elephant charity in 2015, said a ban on UK businesses advertising and profiteering from this “grotesque abuse” is a “crucial measure”.

He urged members of the public to get in touch with their local MP and ask them to back the Private Members’ Bill.

Any failure to act would be highly unwise, judging by a poll conducted for STAE showing that 85 percent of people want all marketing of the sick venues banned.

The charity is yet to hear from Angela Richardson regarding the bill, nor has it heard from Rishi Sunak or the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Therese Coffey.

But, reassuringly, a number of MPs were quick to back the cause when contacted by the Express.

Henry Smith MP said: “Highly endangered baby and adult Asian elephants are being beaten, stabbed and brutalised systematically across southeast Asia to ‘break their spirits’ for easy use in tourism ‘experiences’.

“Shockingly some 1,200 UK-based travel companies promote and sell such excursions to British tourists before they even leave these shores.

“This is not only promoting cruelty, often to unsuspecting travellers who assume that if the experience is sold from here in the UK, it must be ethical, but it is also threatening the very future of endangered species.

“Numbers have collapsed and Asian elephants are nearing extinction.

“The proposed new Animals (Low Welfare Venues Abroad) Bill can stop such cruel abuse of majestic animals for British tourists.

“I urge Government to support it and send a powerful message about protecting all endangered species.”

Anna Firth MP: “Banning tourist venues that abuse elephants from advertising in the UK will deprive them of customers and reward those who protect these beautiful animals.

“It’s a simple step that can help ensure British tourists’ cash doesn’t end up in the hands of animal torturers.

“Sir David Amess championed measures that would protect animals across the globe, and it’s right we support his legacy.”

Will Travers OBE Co-Founder, The Born Free Foundation, said: “The commercial use of Asian elephants across much of Asia quite simply perpetuates dreadful and avoidable suffering.

“A handful of true Sanctuaries give rescued elephants a decent life but the daily exploitation of these intelligent, social, family animals continues because ill-informed tourists pay through the nose for that ‘once in a lifetime’, up close and personal experience.

“Born Free urges tourists everywhere to boycott activities that use captive elephants and to support genuine Sanctuaries.

“The power to end this is in our hands and I ask everyone to sign the STAE petition.”

Elisa Allen, Vice President of PETA, said: “There is absolutely no excuse in this day and age for commandeering beautiful, intelligent elephants for the fleeting entertainment of tourists.

“More must be done to protect these animals from abuse and Governments around the world must step up.

“The UK Government can start by passing the promised Animals Abroad which would ban tour operators from advertising cruel animal attractions, including elephant trekking.

“Anyone visiting countries that offer elephant rides or other wild animal attractions can help too simply by leaving them off their itineraries.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and our Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates our commitment to promoting high animal welfare standards, both at home and abroad.

“We know animals that are part of tourist attractions are often subjected to cruel and brutal training practices – and we encourage access to research so holidaymakers make informed choices that benefit wildlife.”

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