Thomas cook to end trips to ocean parks with captive killer whales. The company announced that they will not sell tickets from next summer to any animal attractions with captive killer whales. More than 90 percent of the customer feedback said that they respect animal welfare, based on which the decision has been made.
The travel agency has been working with animal welfare specialists. Considering the scientific evidence provided by animal welfare specialists seriously, the travel company has banned Tickets for the parks SeaWorld, in Florida, and Loro Parque, Tenerife.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) raised voices against loneliness and deprivation of animals in captive. They said in a statement that such treatment of animals is inhumane.
The documentary by Gabriela Cowperthwaite about fatal attacks by performing killer whales shows that these animals don’t want to kill a human in the wild but become more aggressive if held in captivity. They develop dangerous tendencies when they have been forced as an attraction in marine parks. The documentary gained public attention and the animal attractions in marine parks faced massive outrage.
As a result of New animal welfare policy against using animals for entertainment which was passed 18 months ago, both SeaWorld in Florida and Loro Parque ended their controversial orca shows and breeding programs along with 29 other animal attractions from the park.
The new animal welfare policy caused Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to remove the attractions which use elephants by 2018 but they ended up phasing out such attractions in 2017.
“We respect and applaud the work that has been done, and we will work with both over the next 12 months to prepare for our exit. We will also continue to work ourselves to identify more sustainable alternatives,” said Peter Fankhauser, CEO of Thomas Cook Group.
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