Victory for supporters who backed our Wildlife. Not Entertainers campaign action against the world’s largest travel site

We are proud to share the news that TripAdvisor will stop selling tickets for some of the cruelest wildlife activities.

The site will also host a new education portal, will educate millions of tourists about the cruelties imposed upon wild animals used as props for entertainment.

We are hugely thankful to everyone who signed the petition, and helped move the world for animals.

The cruellest activities

Specific animal tourist experiences that are no longer bookable on TripAdvisor or Viator are those where travelers come into direct contact with captive wild animals or endangered species. This means activities such as tiger selfies, the petting of lion cubs and swimming with dolphins.

TripAdvisor have also stopped selling tickets for elephant riding, an activity we have exposed as one of the world’s cruelest forms of wildlife tourist entertainment. Baby elephants are often taken from their mothers when young. They are beaten, and endure ongoing physical and psychological abuse during training to make them submissive enough to spend the rest of their long lives chained and giving rides to tourists.

A big step for animals

With its 2015 income reaching almost $1.5bn, TripAdvisor’s influence on the tourism industry is immense.

Last year, the University of Oxford reviewed 188 wildlife venues featured on TripAdvisor and found that 75% of the different types of attractions involve wildlife cruelty. Viator, which TripAdvisor acquired in 2014, sells tickets for a number of them. By ending ticket sales to these attractions, TripAdvisor is helping to advance the end of animal exploitation in the tourist industry.