| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 08/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 20 |
| Copyright: Other |
Welcome to our fortnightly
page which puts the spotlight on sustainable tourism.
Turning the spotlight on animal cruelty
Sue Wheat looks at the safety and ethical implications of using animals as tourist attractions
AFTER the horrific incident where British tourist Andrea Taylor was killed and her father and sister seriously injured by an elephant in a Thai tropical garden at Pattaya beach resort, the spotlight has been put on animal performances at holiday destinations.“This was a really tragic event but something we weren’t at all surprised about,” said Trevor Wheeler, operations manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
“Pattaya is notorious for animal shows, as are Bangkok and Phuket. At best, they’re bizarre and at worst they’re dangerous. Tourists assume there will be regulations and standards of training and safety – but in fact there rarely are.”
Animals are frequently used as tourist attractions in holiday destinations – something that should be closely assessed by the travel industry for ethical and safety reasons, advises WSPA.
Tour operators have been quick to withdraw excursions from the Nong Nooch Village where the tragedy occurred.
“We had never experienced any problems here before, but are cancelling our tours to that village until we’ve conducted local investigations,” said a spokeswoman for Thomas Cook.
Apart from organising visits to see working elephants in Thailand, Thomas Cook does not feature any other excursions to animal performances, she said.
A wide range of animal welfare scandals have been documented in Thailand. At the Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm in Bangkok, for example, apart from caged crocodiles, there are also performing elephants, dressed up chimpanzees in chains and tigers that are so heavily drugged that tourists can sit on their backs to have photos taken.
Elephants are also brought into Bangkok at night by their owners to ‘beg’ from tourists – something that is obviously a traffic and civilian hazard as well as an animal welfare issue.
For locals, animals often provide a valuable source of easy money. India has more than 1,000 dancing bears, mostly in the tourist centres. Their noses are pierced without anaesthetic, a ring inserted and a rope attached with which they are pulled around. Life expectancy is around a third of their normal 25 years. Safety regulations are non-existent.
Magic of the Orient managing director Tony Champion said: “You could put notification of these sorts of things in your documentation but the problem is that you can’t warn everyone about every risk.”
Whale and dolphin watching is also of concern, particularly swimming with them which is disturbing for the animals and can be dangerous for the swimmer.
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society campaigns officer Vanessa Williams said: “If you go on safari, you wouldn’t expect to get out of the jeep and climb on a lion’s back, yet that’s what people do with whales and dolphins.
“Some whales and dolphins are huge and if you get in the way of a mother and its calf, you can be in big trouble. Dozens of tourists have been bitten, butted, or had ribs or arms broken for intruding in the animal’s territory.”
Heavy weight: the WSPA is piling on the pressure to put an end to animals being used in performances
Cause of concern: whale watching is a major worry for the WDCS
Factfile
What you can do
n WSPA asks people not to attend animal performances of any kind and to refrain from having their pictures taken with animals.
n A list of humane societies is available from the WSPA so tourists can report anything they see to the appropriate local organisations.
n Bring back video or photographic evidence of mistreatment.
n The WDCS has a list of recommended whale-watching operators.
n For more information, contact the WSPA at 020-7490 7046 or visit their Web site at www.wspa.org.uk. Or call the WDCS at 01225 334511 – Web site address is www.wdcs.org.