Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation welcomes Committee Stage of the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill

Today (Wednesday 8th March) the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed the Committee Stage of Conservative MP Angela Richardson’s Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill.

London, 8th March 2023

Today (Wednesday 8th March) the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed the Committee Stage of Conservative MP Angela Richardson’s Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill.

Many animal tourist attractions abroad involve poor animal welfare practices. Captured elephants abroad are often young and forced to endure long, painful beatings, while being deprived of water, food, and sleep. This process, designed to ‘domesticate’ the elephant, ensures submission for tourist activities.

The Government has committed to taking action to end the UK’s role in advertising and selling such tourist activities. Defra’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare published in 2021 said: “Animals such as Asian elephants may be subjected to cruel and brutal training practices to ensure their obedience. We will legislate to ban the advertising and offering for sale here of specific, unacceptable practices abroad.”

During the Second Reading of the Bill in February this year, Angela Richardson said: “The Bill rightly has significant cross-party support and builds on this Conservative Government’s excellent track record on animal welfare. While we have had so many significant pieces of legislation brought forward to improve animal welfare in the time I have been a Member of Parliament, it is vital that we do not rest on our laurels. There is still a huge amount of work to be done in animal welfare domestically and internationally.”

Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation fully supports the Bill to ban the sale and advertising of unacceptable and cruel tourist practices abroad. CAWF Co-Founder Lorraine Platt has been a Director of Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) since February 2018.

Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation and Director of Save The Asian Elephants, commented: “Passing Committee Stage is an important step for this Bill in becoming legislation. Ending the advertising of overseas “attractions” where Asian elephants and their babies are brutalised in the name of tourism is supported comprehensively across Britain. It will steer demand, and then supply, to ethical venues where elephants and humans are safe from abuse and fatalities.”

“We would like to thank Angela Richardson for leading this Bill, as well as other MPs including our Patron Henry Smith who have shown unwavering commitment on this important issue. We would also like to thank the Government for supporting this Bill and ensuring that this important Manifesto pledge is delivered.”

About Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF)

The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness on the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impact upon animal welfare, the environment and people’s health. We want to highlight the action people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.

Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.

The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Governments plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.

Media contact: Sophia Stileman (sophia.stileman@conservativeanimalwelfarefoundation.org)

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