Two years on, government inaction leaves animals used in tourism to suffer
The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act remains toothless despite campaigning from Born Free and our partners.
© Born Free, Aaron Gekoski
On September 18th 2023, we celebrated the passing into law of the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act.
The Act is designed to ban the advertising and sale by travel companies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of activities involving animal exploitation abroad, which would be illegal if they took place here in the UK. The Act received strong cross-party support in Parliament. Surveys consistently confirm that it is endorsed by the overwhelming majority of the public.
Sadly, two years on, the Act sits on a shelf gathering dust, thanks to the failure of successive Secretaries of State to publish the list of banned activities.
(c) Aaron Gekoski
In March 2024, we provided a comprehensive list of activities, alongside colleagues from other organisations, for the then Secretary of State to consider, accompanied by strong evidence that the activities would meet the criteria specified in the Act. These included such activities as elephant riding, the use of wild animals as photo props, circus acts involving wild animals, and demeaning shows involving dolphins and whales in dolphinaria.
We have since had several meetings with Ministers and officials to try to move the process forward, but to no avail.
Today, on the second anniversary of the passing of the Act into Law, we are calling on the new Secretary of State for Environment, Emma Reynolds MP, to do what her predecessors have failed to do, and finally bring the legislation into effect.
Commenting on the anniversary, Dr Mark Jones, Born Free’s Head of Policy, said: “Sir Keir Starmer has stated that his recent Cabinet reshuffle marks the start of the ‘delivery’ of his electoral promise of change. Delivering on the implementation of the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act would be a popular win for his government, and would send an important message that the UK does not endorse the exploitation and suffering of animals in tourism for profit.
“It would also provide some evidence that he intends to deliver on his previous Secretary of State for Environment’s promise of the biggest boost in animal welfare for a generation. We’ve waited long enough. Now is the time for action.”
REPORT CAPTIVE EXPLOITATION
If you see wild animals being abused or exploited, please Raise the Red Flag and report it to us.