Stevenage Music Festival Under Fire for Plans to Race Camels

For Immediate Release:

18 June 2018

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

STEVENAGE MUSIC FESTIVAL UNDER FIRE FOR PLANS TO RACE CAMELS

PETA Calls for Animal ‘Attraction’ to Be Axed so Camels Won’t Suffer

Stevenage – After learning that next month’s Todd in the Hole Festival plans to host camel races, PETA has sent an urgent letter to the organisers asking them to cancel the activity.

“Camels deserve our respect, not to be used as wind-up toys for our amusement,” says PETA Director Elisa Allen. “Removing these races from the Todd in the Hole Festival would do nothing to diminish the community’s enjoyment of the event – for these sensitive animals, though, it would make a world of difference.”

In the letter, PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – notes that there are serious concerns associated with racing camels. Young camels used in novelty displays, including races, are often torn away from their nurturing mothers when they’re only days old. They fare very poorly when they’re hauled around in transport trailers and forced to participate in events that can be confusing and frightening for them. Because, in nature, they run fast only when they’re in danger, racing can cause them a tremendous amount of physical and psychological harm. The group also points out that camels are easily spooked by loud or unexpected noises, so their use at a music festival presents a potentially hazardous situation for bystanders.

PETA’s letter is available here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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