Klook has launched an animal welfare policy to end the sale of circus-style performances involving elephants, dolphins and tigers.
The policy will come into effect by the end of October 2023, ramping up pressure for more travel companies to follow suit as travellers seek more cruelty-free travel options.
World Animal Protection head of campaigns ANZ, Suzanne Milthorpe said this is a good first step in implementing an animal welfare policy.
“We hope to see the company keep moving towards eliminating all cruel wildlife attractions from its platform, and work towards a fully responsible tourism future to give their customers peace of mind when booking with them,” Milthorpe said.
“We urge all tourism industry players to take responsibility for the activities and venues they promote, and work with us towards a future where tourism is responsible, sustainable, and does not contribute to wildlife cruelty.”
World Animal Protection’s 2023 Holidays that Harm report found that over 1,300 wild animals, including elephants, tigers, and dolphins, are being exploited for tourist entertainment in inadequate conditions across Bali and Lombok. The report also found that the majority of the wildlife entertainment venues investigated didn’t even meet the basic needs of the wild animals being kept there.
Elephant riding and bathing, wildlife selfies with orangutans, swimming with dolphins in artificial pools, and tiger shows were found to be some of the cruellest wildlife attractions offered to tourists.
World Animal Protection’s recent Real Responsible Traveller report also found that despite increasing demand from travellers for responsible tourism options, many of the world’s largest tourism operators were selling low-welfare wildlife venues across the globe.
“These companies are choosing to profit from wildlife suffering and are not keeping pace with other global travel companies like Virgin Holidays, Airbnb, Booking.com and now Klook who are taking steps to protect wild animals caught up in tourism,” Milthorpe said.
“We are seeing a global shift in attitudes towards wildlife in entertainment, with most travellers wanting to do the right thing, and book holidays free from cruel captive wild animal experiences.
“More and more, we’re seeing travel companies following the demand for cruelty-free travel, with companies like Airbnb. Booking.com, Intrepid and World Expeditions, and over 130 others globally end sales to cruel captive performances. We will continue to encourage Klook to remove other close interactions with elephants such as bathing and feeding, and truly become a wildlife-friendly travel company.”
