NEWS 1
YOU NEED TO KNOW
SeaWorld and Loro Parque statements
SeaWorld
Orlando will no longer be sold by Thomas Cook from
next summer
Cook makes a splash with decision to axe SeaWorld
Amie Keeley
amie.keeley@
travelweekly.co.uk
Thomas Cook’s decision to stop selling tickets to killer whale attractions has prompted heated debate among the trade.
Many agents and operators
praised the move, which will see SeaWorld Orlando and Loro Parque in Tenerife removed from sale next summer. But others said not selling the
attractions would do little or nothing to improve the welfare of orcas in captivity. Cook audited 49 animal
attractions, removing 29 that did not meet Abta’s standards. The remaining 20 had made “significant improvements”, it said. SeaWorld passed the audit. But
despite that, Cook said its decision reflected a survey that found more than 90% of its customers were concerned about animal welfare. Chief executive Peter Fankhauser
said: “The decision was based on customer research in Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. We didn’t take the decision lightly.” Spear Travels associate Michelle
White welcomed Cook’s decision. “I don’t believe killer whales should be kept this way or made to perform,” she said. “SeaWorld needs to take a hard look at the way they raise money and realise the public no longer want to see animals perform for our benefit.” Polly Poulton of Travelsphere
said: “Well done, Thomas Cook. Let’s hope other operators will follow suit. I can’t believe people pay to go to these attractions.”
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travelweekly.co.uk 2 August 2018
“SeaWorld needs to realise the public no longer want to see animals perform”
Not all agreed. Phillip Burns,
senior travel consultant at Holidaysplease, said: “It’s cruel to a certain extent, but SeaWorld is also very inspirational and educational, investing a lot of its earnings into funding its own charity, which has saved injured marine life including orcas.” Oliver Brendon, chief executive
of Do Something Different, said: “We abhor poaching, hunting and taking whales from the wild, but neither park has done this for decades and they have stopped their breeding programmes.
n SeaWorld Orlando has seven orcas in captivity. In a statement it said: “Millions of UK guests have visited our parks for fun, education and to help contribute to the protection of marine animals and their habitats. They have seen first-hand the incredible care we provide all of our animals and learnt about how we are protecting and saving species in the wild. “Although we have ended breeding, the animals in our care will be with us and our visitors for many years to come.” n A statement issued by Loro Parque, which has six orcas, said: “[Cook’s] decision is clearly influenced by anti-zoo organisations led by a minority of activists not really concerned about the animals, but just aimed at destroying the zoos and their conservation, research and educational activities.”
“Whales born in captivity would
die in the wild and be exposed to pollution. I’m not convinced [Cook] stopping these sales will do anything positive. “There are bigger and better
fights to be had that would have an impact on animal welfare, such as eradicating plastics in the ocean. “What about Cook’s holidays to destinations that have wild animal hunting, such as Japan? Will they stop selling these?” Cook sold 10,000 tickets to
SeaWorld last year and has sold 40,000 to Loro Parque this year. The operator is in talks with Whale and Dolphin Conservation and World Cetacean Alliance to sell re- sponsible whale and dolphin tours. Tui sells both SeaWorld and
Loro Parque, while Virgin Holidays sells SeaWorld.
PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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