Online travel company City Discovery ends sale of tickets to cruel wildlife attractions
News
After hearing about our call to TripAdvisor to stop profiting from wild animal abuse, City Discovery took the initiative and stood up for wildlife themselves. The move is a further shift towards ending wildlife cruelty in tourism.
City Discovery announced yesterday that it will remove tickets to sightseeing activities and venues that feature cruelty to animals, including some of the world’s cruellest wildlife tourist attractions.
City Discovery's CEO Emmanuel Issaurat said the online tours and activities sector had to show leadership on this important issue:
"For too long we have hidden behind the argument that it's not up to us to make ethical judgements on behalf of our customers. That's a very weak argument; we should have our own standards and ethics, and naturally, they should be high. If we can do something to help these defenceless elephants, lions, tigers and dolphins, we must do it. Our only regret today is that we did not move earlier."
City Discovery was established in 2003. The company offers around 8,000 tours and activities in over 700 locations and has over 1 million annual customers – they can make a big difference for animals.
This is a fantastic breakthrough in the online travel sector – we hope that TripAdvisor are listening and taking note.
Change happens when we work together
272,599 people (and counting) have signed our petition to demand TripAdvisor stops selling tickets to cruel wildlife tourist venues. Whilst TripAdvisor are yet to take action, it was this campaign that moved City Discovery to do the right thing for wild animals.
We’re incredibly proud of our supporters for adding their voices and helping to spread the message that wild animals belong in the wild – they are not entertainers.
Julie Middelkoop, Global Head of the Wildlife – Not Entertainers campaign at World Animal Protection says:
“City Discovery’s decision to end the sale and promotion of cruel wildlife entertainment attractions is a fantastic result for animals. We hope other travel companies will follow their lead by reaching out to World Animal Protection to discuss how they can help to keep wildlife in the wild, where they belong.”
More travel companies need to act
On top of the 100+ that have already pledged to protect wildlife, we expect many more travel companies will follow in the steps of City Discovery.
If we can do something to help these defenceless elephants, lions, tigers and dolphins, we must do it. Our only regret today is that we did not move earlier.