The landmark Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023, when implemented, will protect all vertebrate species across the planet from cruel abuse in tourism that is advertised in the UK – elephants, monkeys, big cats, bears, dolphins, birds and many more.

The Act passed into law in September 2023 but has still not been brought into effect by Government who are being lobbied hard by big business that make many millions from animal-tourism abuse.

We call on the Westminster Government to ACT NOW to implement the law without delay by listing all the cruel activities that should now be banned from being promoted.

Please email Environment Secretary Steve Reed on defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk and Minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock on HaymanS@parliament.uk demanding action now.

Why this petition matters
The plight of elephants in Africa is widely recognised, but far less is known of the even more desperate threats facing Asian (or Asiatic) elephants, whose surviving population is barely 5% that of African elephants, with numbers of Asian elephants declining from estimates of a million or more in the late 19th Century to scarcely 40,000 today.

Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) is a not for profit association which aims to raise awareness of the plight of the Asian Elephants; working to end the terrible cruelty and brutal conditions suffered by this wondrous and ancient species. Young elephants are snatched from their forest homes to supply tourist attractions, temples and festivals. Capture from the wild often entails slaughtering the mothers and other herd members who attempt to protect their young.

PAJAN – THE BRUTAL ‘BREAKING IN’ PROCESS
The captured calves are isolated and then forced into a pen and tied with ropes to prevent them moving. They are deprived of water, food and sleep. Terrified, they are brutally, often fatally, beaten with rods, chains or bullhooks (a rod with sharp metal hooks at the striking end) and stabbed with knives and nails. This practice – “pajan” – is designed to break their spirits and brutalise them into submission.

We respectfully urge:
1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end pajan and ensure the proper treatment of captive elephants. These magnificent creatures should either be released into the forests or kept in genuine sanctuaries.
2. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to urgently implement and enforce the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.
3. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to press its members including Virgin Holidays, to remove elephant attractions from their itinerary in India and the rest of Asia. Only visits to genuine sanctuaries and wildlife reserves where tourists observe elephants at a respectful distance (and do not ride them) should be permitted.

Save The Asian Elephants now before it’s too late by signing our petition.

Find out more about Save The Asian Elephants at www.stae.org
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See STAE's work
03/05/24: STAEs CEO Duncan McNair leads the fight for implementation by govt of the globally important Animals Low-Welfare Activities Abroad Act

15/03/23: UK bill to ban advertising of cruel animal attractions on its way

07/10/18: Thai elephant tourism hides abuse

04/08/18: Calls for ban on holiday adverts with elephant rides and circuses

04/02/18: A-Law spotlight on Save The Asian Elephants

16/04/17: CHAINED, TORTURED AND MENTALLY BROKEN FOR TOURISM We uncover the horrors of the Asian Elephants abuse industry, where beautiful animals are left dying in agony… and Brit tourists are to blame

23/08/15: Your roar of outrage for gentle giants: MoS readers' extraordinary reaction to abused elephants story 

16/08/15: Tortured for tourists: Chained to the same spot for 20 years. Beaten into submission at secret jungle training camps. The terrible plight of Indian elephants by LIZ JONES

Thank you for your support.
http://stae.org