Dame Joanna Lumley has criticized the UK government for not enforcing legislation designed to prevent the promotion of animal tourism that harms wildlife abroad, citing the deaths of baby elephants, tiger cubs, and other species linked to tourism driven from the UK. The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act, passed in 2023, aims to ban travel companies from advertising overseas holiday experiences where animals are forced to perform or provide rides.
Despite the law’s passage, campaigns led by Lumley and groups like Save the Asian Elephant argue that the government has yet to implement the act effectively. Lumley, who is a well-known animal rights advocate, called on the government to honour its promises to enforce the legislation, saying the welfare of captive animals has become a “scandal.” She highlighted a range of affected species including lions, monkeys, dolphins, and birds of paradise, asserting that many suffer and die as a result of tourism activities promoted in the UK.
Save the Asian Elephant has identified hundreds of travel companies advertising venues that it describes as “unethical,” primarily in Asia. Their research also points to a high number of injuries and fatalities caused by interactions with Asian elephants in tourism settings, with nearly 1,000 people reported injured and hundreds more killed in such incidents.
Public sentiment appears to support stronger governmental intervention. A survey of over 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Save the Asian Elephants found that 63% backed the legislation, with only 23% opposed. Additionally, a combined poll conducted by Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now found that 71% of respondents did not trust the travel industry to self-regulate in matters of animal welfare abroad, and 68% favored government action to remove advertisements for venues failing to address animal mistreatment.
The UK government has acknowledged the concerns but has not confirmed a timetable for enforcement. A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokeswoman noted the government’s prior efforts to improve animal welfare domestically, citing progress on zoo standards, combating puppy smuggling, and protecting livestock from dog attacks. She said officials continue to explore legislative and non-legislative measures aimed at restricting advertising of low-welfare animal activities overseas and promised that next steps would be announced in due course.
According to reports, ministers are considering a phased approach to enforcement, potentially beginning with elephant-related tourism before expanding to cover additional species. However, campaigners urge a more immediate and comprehensive implementation to prevent further harm to wildlife caused by tourism linked to the UK market.