{"id":943132,"date":"2023-01-03T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1639889"},"modified":"2023-01-03T15:37:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T15:37:00","slug":"pressure-mounts-as-uk-decides-whether-to-protect-elephants-from-tourism-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/01\/03\/pressure-mounts-as-uk-decides-whether-to-protect-elephants-from-tourism-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Pressure mounts as UK decides whether to protect elephants from tourism abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A petition calling for an end to elephant abuse linked to tourism<\/a> has surpassed 1.1m signatures. The milestone comes as the UK parliament approaches the second reading of a bill that would prohibit the advertising and sale of tourism activities<\/a> linked to such abuse.<\/p>\n

Elephant abuse for tourism<\/h2>\n

As the Canary<\/em>\u00a0previously reported, many elephants in tourism<\/a> endure a torturous existence. Some are snatched from the wild as youngsters, and most endure a brutal training regime known as ‘pajan’ to subdue their wild natures. The process can involve beating, crushing and starving the elephants, among other abuses.<\/p>\n

Once their trainers consider them obedient enough, they are put to work, with their continued subservience maintained through the threat of further violence. Commonly, for example, elephant keepers carry a bullhook. As the name suggests, this tool has a sharp hook that can be jabbed into elephants’ sensitive areas<\/a> to subdue them.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Save the Asian Elephants<\/a>\u00a0(STAE) revealed that hundreds of travel companies sell or promote tourism<\/a> to British holidaymakers that may involve such abuse. The organisation has since identified hundreds more<\/a>. Many of the companies are members of the UK travel trade association ABTA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Advertising ban<\/h2>\n

Despite public support for a ban on the promotion of unethical elephant tourism<\/a>, the UK government shelved a bill<\/a>\u00a0in 2022 that would have cracked down on the trade. The Animals Abroad Bill would have also impacted the UK’s involvement in other non-human animal-related issues overseas<\/a>, such as trophy hunting, the fur trade and the import of foie gras. But senior Conservatives like Jacob Rees-Mogg and Mark Spencer reportedly blocked it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, parliamentarians are seeking to salvage some of the provisions it contained through Private Members’ bills. The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill<\/a> is one of these. It would prohibit the advertising and sale of overseas activities that “involve low standards of welfare for animals”. Guildford MP Angela Richardson formally introduced the bill<\/a> in June 2022. \u00a0Its second commons reading will take place on 3 February<\/a>. This will be the first opportunity<\/a> MPs have to debate it.<\/p>\n

In December, another Private Members’ bill passed its second reading<\/a> with ease. The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill would ban the import of trophies from many threatened animals<\/a> into the country.<\/p>\n

STAE will hand the 1.1 m-signature-strong petition<\/a> calling for an end to the abuse of elephants for tourism to Downing Street ahead of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill’s next reading. The group is also urging UK citizens to contact their MPs and government ministers to demand they back the bill.<\/p>\n

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At this important time before the House of Commons second reading of the Animals (Low Welfare Venues Abroad) Bill on 3 February 2023 please all UK citizens email these important cut and paste letters demanding action to your MP and to Govt Minister and PM: https:\/\/t.co\/dMYRW2q5Cs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2VlQJxgx39<\/a><\/p>\n

— Save The Asian Elephants (@stae_elephants) January 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n