Tourists urged to boycott cruelty

[Guest guest]

HOLIDAYMAKERS travelling abroad this summer are being asked to

boycott bullfights, circuses and any attraction with performing

animals.

 

RSPCA inspectors recently took undercover film of a fiesta in

Spain that showed spectators kicking and throwing firecrackers at a

bull, and using blowpipes to aim darts at it.

At another fiesta, in Benavente, the RSPCA was able to help

Spanish authorities to bring a prosecution against the organisers for

allowing children to goad a young bull. The RSPCA is concerned,

however, also about bullfights in France, Portugal, Mexico and South

America.

 

An RSPCA leaflet warning travellers about animal cruelty abroad is

being distributed at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Fun in the Sun -

or is it? highlights the treatment of animals such as horses and

camels that stand around in the sun all day to offer rides.

 

Similarly, the RSPCA warns travellers to be alert to beach

photographers who try to persuade people to pose with a monkey, a

chimpanzee, a snake or even a tiger.

 

The society says that such animals have often been drugged to make

them easier to handle and might have had their teeth and claws

removed.

 

David Bowles, head of the RSPCA's international department, said

last night that however tempting the prospect of a photograph taken

with an exotic wild animal, " all too often behind the scenes these

animals endure horrendous living conditions and suffer daily

cruelty " .

 

The RSPCA is also appealing for people to shun aquariums and

dolphinariums. Its leaflet says: " Often the animals suffer greatly

for the entertainment of visitors and your presence only keeps places

like this in business. "

 

On holiday souvenirs, the leaflet pleads: " Please do not buy items

such as ivory, tortoiseshell hair-slides, exotic leather goods,

multicoloured feathers, tropical shells, dried starfish, sea horses

and coral, as all involve the death of an animal. " Scuba divers and

snorkellers are urged not to break or remove coral.

 

The problem of stray cats and dogs, which hang around hotels and

blocks of flats, is also covered. The RSPCA warns people not to feed

them because the animals would then rely on tourists for food; once

the holiday season was over, the food would dry up.

 

The RSPCA leaflet warns people that they may be upset by street

markets where animals are packed into tiny cages and left all day in

the sun.

 

Holidaymakers are urged to report any incident of animal cruelty

to the RSPCA or to an animal welfare group in the foreign country

and, if possible, to supply photographs.

 

 

 

Folder Name: Asia Conservation Tiger

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