Dame Joanna Lumley has backed calls for a change in the law to protect animals abroad, warning that baby elephants and tiger cubs are among the “endless species dying dreadfully” because of tourism generated in the UK. The government has failed to halt the UK promotion of holiday venues where animals are forced to perform tricks and give rides.
Three-Year Delay in Enforcing the Act
The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act, which passed in 2023, has not been enforced. Lumley said: “Baby elephants, lion and tiger cubs, little monkeys, chimps, donkeys, dolphins and birds of paradise are amongst the endless species dying dreadfully due to modern tourism generated in the UK. We have a wonderful Act to correct this that Government has sat on for three years. It had promised vigorous implementation before the last General Election and since has done nothing. This tragedy for abused captive animals is becoming a scandal, as it is for humans violently killed by them. We charge the Government to show true leadership and honour their promise.”
Government Consideration and Industry Response
It is understood that ministers are considering starting to enforce the Act, beginning with elephants and then looking at other species “animal by animal”. Hundreds of companies have been identified by campaign group Save the Asian Elephant as advertising “unethical” elephant venues to the UK market. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 people have been injured - and hundreds more killed - by Asian elephants in tourism.
Public Support for Legislation
A survey commissioned by Save the Asian Elephants found more than 2,000 UK adults showed the public backed the legislation by almost a three-to-one majority, 63% to 23%. More than seven in 10 (71%) said they would not trust the travel industry to self-regulate animal welfare abroad. Instead, 68% of those polled by Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now said the Government should take the lead in removing adverts for venues that failed to tackle the mistreatment of animals. A similar majority said deaths or injuries of tourists were an “unacceptable” cost of inaction.
The government has been contacted for comment.
