Petitions

You can make a difference to animals’ lives by signing these petitions to end cruelty.

Save The Asian Elephants and 45 others – letter to PM regarding abusive elephant venues

Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

The Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

Westminster

London SW1A 2AA

22 April 2022

Dear Prime Minister

This is an open letter by 46 prominent NGOs and others from across the animal welfare and protection sectors.  We wish collectively to express extreme disquiet at reports, yet to be corrected if erroneous, that the Government you lead intends to abandon its promise to the British people of an Animals Abroad Bill, or important measures in it, that will introduce a ban on advertising of practices overseas that brutalise Asian elephants in tourism.

Acute plight of Asian elephants in tourism; brutality and suffering; significant role of UK market

Highly endangered baby and adult elephants throughout South East Asia are cruelly taken from the wild and systematically beaten and stabbed to “break the spirits” for easy use in tourism, actions that would be profoundly unlawful if committed in the UK.[1]  In 2018/19 two million UK tourists visited India and Thailand.[2] 32% of those visiting Thailand reported having ridden an elephant or wishing to, unwitting of the cruelty and the dangers.[3]  In 2016 demand for up to 12.8 million rides was projected in Thailand alone,[4] demonstrating how remorselessly the 2,800 tourist elephants in Thailand[5] are commercially exploited, often to death.  Nearly 1,200 companies have so far been identified in the UK market currently promoting almost 300 overseas “attractions” where unethical activities are practised through at least 2,807 separate advertisements.[6]

Numbers of Asian elephants engaged in tourism in Thailand increased by 70% from 2010 to 2020.[7]

The Asian elephant has now been designated as endangered for over 35 years.[8]  Numbers have crashed to the point where this ancient, majestic species now risks facing extinction.  Withthe destruction of the species would come the end of its unique role as “megagardeners of the forests”, which maintain biodiversity, are the lungs of the Earth, store carbon and so contribute to tackling climate change.

Captive Asian elephants can be highly dangerous to humans

Abused captive elephants can be deadly to humans.  First, when provoked they attack, often fatally.  Ever rising figures show at least 700 tourists and others killed; and at least another 900 sustaining catastrophic injuries, typically crushed chests and internal organs, broken limbs and ribs, serious head injuries, the numbers accelerating fast since 1980.[9]  Just one such incident occurred at Nong Nooch Village Garden in Thailand when young English tourist Helen Costigan and her late father were injured and her sister Andrea, a student nurse, killed by an abused Asian elephant during a tourist show.  Many years later and this cruel and dangerous resort, with no safety measures in place, is still being promoted by at least 119 companies in the UK market.[10]  Helen has previously asked to meet with you and would still like to do so.

Secondly, broken down and held in fetid close confinement elephants by their large volumes of exhalation transmit the deadly TB pathogen to humans.  Concerns also arise regarding their potential transmission of other airborne pathogens.[11]

Thirdly, evidence is emerging that human trafficking, such as of stateless and vulnerable Karen refugees transported from Myanmar to Thailand, props up the burgeoning trade in unethical elephant tourism.[12]  Exploitation and suffering of mahouts in low welfare venues in Thailand has been variously reported.[13]

Rarely has it been truer to say that what is good (or bad) for animals is good (or bad) for humans too.

Failure of self-regulation and need for legislation

Numerous promises of change by unethical operators have proved empty over many years.  No steps have been taken during lockdown to improve safety or welfare.  New law is needed.

Public, specialist and cross-party support for a ban on cruel advertising

In general terms animal welfare issues have never ranked higher amongst the concerns of the British people.  Specifically, as to the abuse of Asian elephants in tourism, as the severity of the abuse and the significant role of the UK market in driving the trade are laid bare, polling by Populus shows an ever-rising tide of outrage and demand, in the region of 90%, for such measures.[14] In a 2021 survey, 99.1% wanted penalties for those profiting from such abuse.[15]

A petition condemning such abuse and insisting sales of visits be limited to genuine sanctuaries only has passed 1,092,000 signatures,[16]another 32 million signatures on similar, closely aligned petitions.[17]  Legal protection for Asian elephants abused in tourism has been welcomed across the political divide and by all the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom. It has attracted interest and admiration from nations around the globe.  In its essentials such law would be readily transposable to all jurisdictions where such unscrupulous markets flourish.

The signatories below are a sample only of many more calling for a ban on unethical advertising to protect the elephants.  Attached is a list approaching 100 people and organisations of expertise and influence across all sectors calling in their own words for this ban.

Government’s promise of law to introduce a ban

Last year Government’s Animal Welfare Action Plan, echoing the Queen’s Speech, promised law to ban advertising and offering for sale of abusive practices abroad affecting elephants and other species used in tourism.  Crucially this measure would steer the market towards ethical tourism and throw a lifeline to many endangered species that suffer extreme brutality in tourism.  It counters claims that cruel exploitation by rides, tricks and games provide important revenue to target countries.  The operators promoting this cruelty contribute nothing to protect humans or animals at these venues.

Over 90% of the country is calling for such a ban. It is in Government’s own interests to take a principled lead over other nations and introduce it, restoring a fair claim to be showing the way on animal welfare.  As stated in the Action Plan: “The way we treat animals reflects our values and the kind of people we are.”

Yours sincerely

Duncan McNair – CEO, Save The Asian Elephants

Elisa Allen – Director, PETA UK

Sonul Badiani-Hamment – UK Country Director, Four Paws UK

Lara Balsam – Director, Jewish Vegetarian Society

Claire Bass – Executive Director, Humane Society International UK

Mary Burgess – Founder, The Animal Star Awards

Kirsteen Campbell – CEO, Scottish Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Rev Samantha Chandler – Hon Secretary, Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals

Paul Christian – Director, Protect All Wildlife

David Clough – Professor in Theology and Applied Sciences, University of Aberdeen

David Cowdrey FRGS – conservationist

Jan Creamer – President, Animal Defenders International

Professor Cathy Dwyer – Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education

Dominic Dyer – animal welfare campaigner

Peter Egan – actor and animal welfare campaigner

Bob Elliot – Director, OneKind

Chris Fegan – Chief Executive, Catholic Concern for Animals

Barbara Gardner – Chief Executive, Animal Interfaith Alliance

Dr Jane Goodall DBE – Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

Iain Green – Director, Animal Aid

Laura Hellwig – Campaigns Manager, Viva!

Claire Howard – Executive Director, Crustacean Compassion

Stanley Johnson – Patron, Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation

Dr Andrew Kelly – Director, Freedom for Animals

Andy Knott MBE – Chief Executive, League Against Cruel Sports

Rob Lott – Campaign coordinator, Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Philip Lymbery – Global CEO, Compassion in World Farming

Clara Mancini – Professor of Animal-Computer Interaction, The Open University

Simon Marsh – Executive Director, Wild Welfare

Megan McCubbin – zoologist, conservationist and TV presenter

Jaysukh Mehta – Trustee, Mahavir Trust

Nitin Mehta MBE – Indian Vegetarian Society

Maria Mossman – Director, Action for Elephants UK

David Neale – Animal Welfare Director, Animals Asia Foundation

Dr Christina Nellist – Co-founder, Pan-Orthodox Concern for Animals

Lorraine Platt – Co-founder and Director, Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation

Ian Redmond OBE – Head of Conservation, Ecoflix

Dr Richard Ryder – animal rights advocate, activist, philosopher

Professor Stuart Reid CBE, BVMS, PhD, DVM, DipECVPH, FRSE, MRCVS – Principal and CEO, The Royal Veterinary College

John Sauven – Executive Director, Greenpeace UK

James Sawyer FRGS, CGEOG – Regional Director, IFAW

Nicola Skelley – Director, the FOAL Group

Paula Sparks – Chairperson, UK Centre for Animal Law

Susan Starkey – Run Free Alliance

Elaine Toland BSc (Hons) MRSB FRSPH – Director, Animal Protection Agency

Peter Tutt – Coordinator, The Shellfish Network

[1] One indicative study identified 55 wild caught elephants traded illegally in Sri Lanka (Animals Asia Foundation 2008-2018).

[2] Wikipedia; Statista; Thaiwebsites.com.

[3] Wildlife Entertainment in Thailand: Tourist Attitudes and Behaviour. (2019) (ABN Impact research on behalf of World Animal Protection).

[4] Taken for a Ride (2016), World Animal Protection, p23.

[5] Elephants. Not Commodities (2020), World Animal Protection.

[6] Data collected by Save The Asian Elephants since 2015. (Updated April 2022).

[7] Elephants. Not Commodities (ibid), p27.

[8] International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Asian elephant as endangered since 1986, the population having declined by over 50% in each of its past three generations.

[9] Research data collated by Save The Asian Elephants 2015 to date (updated April 2022), rounded down from 716 and 932 respectively.

[10] The Elephants of Nong Nooch: A Modern Horror Story (video by Save The Asian Elephants, 2020) https://bit.ly/38DTLir

[11] Scientific and other reportage such as: http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1703.101668

[12] Various local and published reportage such as: https://thefreedomstory.org/the-link-between-elephants-and-human-trafficking/

[13] e.g. Taken for a Ride (ibid) pp43/44.

[14] Polling by Populus commissioned by Save The Asian Elephants (July 2020).

[15] Online survey by Save The Asian Elephants (August 2021).

[16] bit.ly/STAEpetition

[17] 195 petitions totalling 32.8 million signatures, collated by Save The Asian Elephants (2022).

Petition Calling on the Catholic Church to do More for Animals

The Roman Catholic Church, under the leadership of Pope Francis, has been showing a more caring attitude towards the natural world. But the Catholic Church could do much more to show concern for the way animals are treated, to raise the status of animals and to promote justice and compassion towards animals. The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales meets twice a year. It has a Committee on the Environment. This petition asks for the Conference to set up a Committee on Animals. This new Committee on Animals would enable the church to focus attention on the moral aspect of how we treat animals and would create a platform for expressing views on these matters.

Please join in calling for the Bishops of England and Wales to set up a Committee on Animals.

Sign the online petition.

Help End the Brutal Bloodsport of Organised Horse Fighting in the Southern Philippines

Network For Animals need your help to end the brutal bloodsport of Organized Horse Fighting in the southern Philippines. Over a weekend fiesta of horse fighting, tens, even hundreds of horses are violently wounded, while the mares are subjected to repeated mounting by the ‘victor’ of each bout. Network for Animals are battling a cruelty that is illegal, yet ingrained in southern Filipino society, and taking a stand means moving against organised crime in an area where gun carrying is the norm. Use your voice today, to help us urge the Philippine president to end Organized Horse Fighting.
Sign the online petition.

Tigers Reduced to Skin and Bones

Behind rusted bars, a skeletal tiger lies panting on the filthy concrete floor of his cage, covered in painful sores and weeping wounds. His once-powerful body is now so emaciated it is little more than a pitiful pile of fur and bones. In row after row of foul, cramped cages, 1,500 other tigers also lie alone, crippled and dying of starvation. Throughout China, it is estimated that at least 6,000 tigers – twice the amount existing in the wild – are suffering and dying in horrific “tiger farms”.

This evil industry has its roots in a single, outdated law. Under China’s 1989 Law on the Protection of Wildlife, wildlife is merely a resource for human use. The law encourages the breeding of tigers, bears, and other wildlife for commercial purposes, set up the frequently-abused permit system for selling wildlife parts, and affords captive animals no legal protection from abuse and neglect. Fortunately, attitudes in China are quickly changing – and the law is about to follow.

The good news is that China values its international reputation above all else, meaning that a massive global outcry will encourage lawmakers to do the right thing and put an end to the tiger trade once and for all. If they do, conservationists say that it would be “the single biggest contribution to securing a future for wild tigers.”

Sign the Avaaz Petition.