CompassionateTravel.org Shows Travelers How to Help Animals on Their Next Trip

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2009

BOSTON – Every summer many families make trips to swim with dolphins at beachside resorts, but a recent report says many of these popular tourist attractions are filled with wild dolphins that suffered terrible trauma during capture and endure severe and persistent stress due to constant forced human interaction. The report, “Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity,” was co-published by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and The Humane Society of the United States.

“The captive display industry operates under the veil of conservation and education yet the evidence is clear that these complex and intelligent animals are being exploited for human entertainment,” said Sharanya Krishna Prasad, WSPA U.S. program officer. “We believe that the captive experience for marine mammals is so contrary to their natural experience that it should be rejected outright.”

Amid a growing number of swim-with-the-dolphins facilities being planned and built in developing countries to attract tourists, WSPA is working to educate travelers on the cruelty, neglect and abuse suffered by animals in the tourist industry. The organization has launched www.CompassionateTravel.org, which offers volunteer opportunities, guidelines, brochures and informational videos on how tourists can make their trips more animal-friendly. “Compassionate Planet,” the Web site’s companion blog, provides weekly updates to readers about unique vacation experiences and travel tips.

“Our hope is that by educating the consumer demand for attractions that involve animal suffering will diminish,” said Dena Jones, WSPA’s U.S. program director. “By logging on to CompassionateTravel.org, everyone can learn some simple facts that will help make their next trip cruelty-free.”

Read the complete fourth edition of the “Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity.”

Media Contact:

Meryl Bailey, WSPA: 617-896-9291, mbailey@wspausa.org

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The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the world's largest alliance of animal welfare organizations, with a growing network of nearly 1000 affiliated societies in more than 150 countries. With consultative status at both the United Nations and the Council of Europe, WSPA is building a united global animal welfare movement to further our vision of a world where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends. On the Web at wspa-usa.org.