100+ travel companies join forces to end elephant rides

More than 100 travel companies from 12 countries have committed to ending elephant rides in the tourism industry.

A campaign by World Animal Protection, formerly known as the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), has secured the support of travel companies from around the world, including major groups like The Travel Corporation, TUI, Thomas Cook, Intrepid Travel, Voyages Jules Verne, Helloworld, AAT Kings, Jetset Travel, Qantas Holidays, Scenic Tours and G Adventures.

These 114 companies will now remove elephant rides from their tour programmes, in an effort to prevent the cruel practices used in the elephant tourism sector.

“Leading travel brands see the value of animal protection,” said Josey Kitson, executive director at World Animal Protection Canada. “Many of the companies we’ve engaged with in Canada like G Adventures, The Travel Corporation and World Expeditions, as well as those globally including Intrepid Travel, have welcomed the opportunity to stand with us to protect wildlife.”

According to World Animal Protection, many elephants are taken from their mothers as calves and forced through a horrific training practice known as “the crush”. This involves restraining and beating the animals and withholding their food and water in an effort to break their spirit and make them placid enough for riding.

Having been “broken”, many elephants are then kept chained and isolated from one another, according to the organisation.

“World Animal Protection wants to see this cruelty stop, and tourists can help by avoiding animal attractions while on vacation and encouraging more companies to join our movement,” Ms Kitson added.

Last year, a report by World Animal Protection warned that the cruel practices seen in the Asian elephant tourism sector in are now increasingly being seen in Africa.

There are now reported to be more than 200 captive elephants in southern Africa, and 24 young elephants were recently sold by the Zimbabwean government and exported to Chimelong Safari Park in China, where, according to World Animal Protection, they will “suffer a life of abuse performing in shows and giving rides”.

Companies supporting the World Animal Protection campaign:

Belgium

Jetair
Sunjets
VIP Selection
VTB Reizen

Denmark

Albatros Travel (offices also in Sweden, Norway, Finland)
Asiatours
C&C Travel
Jysk Rejsebureau (part of Kilroy Group)
Nyhavn Rejser
Spies
Star Tour

Finland

Tjäreborg
Finnmatkat

Netherlands

333Travel
Baobab Reizen
BETje individuele reizen
Better Places
de Jong Intra Vakanties
Djoser
Diogenes Reizen
Fair Mundo Travel
FOX Verre Reizen van ANWB
Green Canyon Reizen
Holland International
Koning Aap
Kras
Riksja Travel
Sawadee
Shoestring
SNP Natuurreizen van ANWB
SRC Cultuurvakanties
Stip Reizen
Tenzing Travel
Tiara Tours
TUI
YourWay2Go

Norway

Ving Norge AS
Star Tour

Sweden

Apollo (offices also in Denmark, Norway, Finland)
Fritidsresor
Getaway Travel
Jambo Tours
Kenzan Tours
Kinalotsen
Lejonresor
Lotus Travel
Naturresor
Odd Explorer
Odenresor
Rosa Bussarna
Sembo
Swed-Asia Travels
Världens Resor
Ving
Volontärresor

United Kingdom

African Travel (offices also in South Africa)
Carrier
Explore Worldwide
The Family Adventure Company
Far Away Adventures
Haggis Adventures
Insight Vacations
Journeys of Distinction
Kirker Holidays
Kuoni Travel UK
Lifesigns Group
Premier Holidays
Rickshaw Travel
Shamrocker Adventures
Voyages Jules Verne
Wild Frontiers

USA

Contiki Holidays (offices also in the EU, Russia, Egypt, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Asia)
Grand European Travel
Islands in the Sun
Lion World Travel
Qantas Vacations (offices also in Australia, New Zealand)
Trafalgar (offices also in Australia, Canada, China,New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, UK)
Uniworld (offices also in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, China)

Canada

Comfortable Hiking Holidays
G Adventures (offices also around the world)
Merit Travel Group
World Expeditions (offices also in the USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia)

New Zealand

Air Tickets
Atlantic Pacific American Express
Go Holidays
United Travel
World Aviation (offices also in Australia)

Australia

AAT Kings (offices also in New Zealand)
Adventure Destinations
Adventure Tours Australia
Adventure World
APT
Atlantic Pacific Travel
Better World Travel
Captain’s Choice
Geckos Adventures (office also in the UK)
Helloworld Limited (offices also in New Zealand, USA, Fiji, Asia, UK and South Africa)
Helloworld for business
Harvey World Travel (offices also in New Zealand)
Insider Journeys (Previously Travel Indochina)
Intrepid Travel (offices also in 147 countries worldwide)
Jetset Travel
Peregrine (offices also in the UK, USA, New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, Canada, Germany, Switzerland)
Peak DMC
Qantas Holidays
QBT
Rail Tickets
ReadyRooms.com.au
Scenic Tours (offices also in New Zealand, UK)
Tempo Holidays (offices also in the UK, New Zealand, Middle East)
Travelscene American Express
Travelworld
Travel Marvel
Viva! Holidays (offices also in the UK, USA, New Zealand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia)

China

W Travel