Action on animal cruelty tourism

The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 bans the ‘sale, offering for sale, or advertisement in England and Northern Ireland of low-welfare animal activities which take place abroad’. Once implemented, it would ban British adverts for practices involving animals abroad that would be illegal here.

While the Act came into force in September 2023, it has not yet been implemented.

In September, in response to a written question, environment, food and rural affairs minister Daniel Zeichner MP said the government would ‘introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation... and will be setting out next steps in due course’.

Last week, the Low-Welfare Act Coalition of animal protection organisations, led by Duncan McNair, chief executive of Save the Asian Elephants, met with ministers about next steps in implementation of the Act. 

McNair said the meeting ‘was broadly positive’. 

‘The minister, Baroness Hayman, emphasised government’s determination to get the regulations in place and to implement this most important of all animal protection laws. On behalf of the Low-Welfare Act Coalition I have requested a statement from government which we hope will clarify this week exactly what steps they intend and when and what more they expect of us to ensure prompt action and enforcement.

‘The Coalition I lead has already provided abundant evidence to our government of the heart-breaking cruelty being inflicted on most of the world’s iconic species in the name of tourism “fun” and profits. Without change few will survive beyond the end of this century.

‘It is important to the Coalition that the intense lobbying against change of those who seek to defend this cruel exploitation does not prevail,’ he said.  

The Act enjoys majority support among the British public. An independent survey this month by polling company Find Out Now among more than 2,000 Britons found 79% in favour of the Act, while 55% regarded implementation as a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ priority.

Save the Asian Elephants reports that elephants used in tourism are taken from the wild when young and trained into obedience so as to be safe near tourists. This involves isolation, deprivation of food, water and sleep, and beating and stabbing with rods, chains and bullhooks. This treatment sometimes results in death.

The charity highlights that other endangered species can also suffer and die in tourism such as monkeys, lions, tigers, bears and dolphins, and humans can die or be injured by captive wild animals.

Supporters say it gives entertainment to tourists, creates jobs for locals, and that western countries shouldn't impose their values and culture on others. About 1,200 UK companies currently advertise some 300 or more venues abroad where such treatment happens to elephants.