Pure Destinations and Honeymoon Dreams Take a Stand Against Cruelty to Animals
Pure Destinations and Honeymoon Dreams Take a Stand Against Cruelty to Animals
After Hearing From PETA, British Travel Providers Drop SeaWorld and Elephant Rides
London – After learning from PETA how marine animals, including orcas and other dolphins, suffer when they’re confined to cramped concrete tanks, luxury British travel provider Pure Destinations and sister company Honeymoon Dreams have confirmed to PETA that they have stopped selling tickets to SeaWorld – the world’s most notorious marine abusement park – and no longer sell itineraries including elephant rides.
“Pure Destinations and Honeymoon Dreams support PETA’s mission of ending the suffering of animals in tourism,” says Lakh Hayer, founder and managing director of both companies. Our customers want to see whales and dolphins living free in the ocean, not in concrete tanks, which is why we’ve stopped selling tickets to SeaWorld. And in order to protect elephants from abuse – and [for] the safety of our customers – we’ve removed all elephant rides from our itineraries.”
PETA notes that in nature, orcas form complex relationships, work cooperatively to find food, and traverse up to 140 miles of ocean every day. Those at SeaWorld are housed in incompatible groups in cramped tanks, are sometimes kept in solitary confinement for months, and suffer from stress-induced injuries and illnesses. In addition, the British travel association ABTA has said it’s unacceptable for tourists to take elephant rides, and the UK government is considering making it illegal for travel companies to promote the activity.
“Pure Destinations and Holiday Dreams have listened to public opinion that wild animals should be respected, not exploited for a selfie or a degrading performance for tourists,” says PETA Senior Corporate Liaison Dr Carys Bennet. “No travel provider should profit from cruelty to animals, and PETA urges TUI – which is still giving a financial lifeline to SeaWorld – to follow these companies’ lead.”
Pure Destinations and Holiday Dreams join a long list of companies – including British Airways Holidays, Virgin Holidays, Premier Holidays, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor – that have stopped promoting SeaWorld.
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.
Contact:
Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]
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