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ABTA, a travel trade association, is letting dolphins and whales down! Remind it that marine animals need protection, too.
The company advises against the promotion of tourist activities such as bullfighting and elephant rides. Urge it to update its Animal Welfare Guidelines to add facilities that exploit dolphins and whales to its “unacceptable practices” list.
Why Marine Parks Suck
All animals deserve respect. They aren’t selfie props or circus attractions.
Whales and dolphins are complex, highly intelligent animals who have their own language and culture. In the ocean, orcas can swim up to 150 miles a day. Imagine how they feel being imprisoned in cramped tanks.
Orcas are left to languish in concrete tanks about 10,000 times smaller than their natural home range. They may also be drugged with diazepam and other tranquilisers. At SeaWorld, 140 dolphins are packed into just seven tanks. Their water is chemically treated, and they’re forced to perform confusing tricks. Life in a marine park is no life at all.
ABTA Needs to Do Better!
ABTA’s Animal Welfare Guidelines lists wild-animal performances among its unacceptable practices. But why is it OK with letting marine mammals endure a life of misery in watery prisons?
The UK hasn’t had these cruel attractions since the 1990s, and Belgium, Canada, France, India, and other countries have banned cetacean captivity. Jet2holidays, easyJet holidays, Southall Travel, British Airways Holidays, Your Co-op Travel, Club Med, and Virgin Atlantic Holidays refuse to promote marine parks. ABTA is now lagging behind, allowing members like TUI to continue to support these barbaric spectacles.