International travel Company Expedia will no longer offer or sell holiday packages that include captive dolphin and whale shows. It's part of a recently adopted animal welfare policy by the travel giant, which is considered by many the “most powerful” agent in the world.
The new animal guidelines focus on six different areas: nutrition, environment, health, behavior, choice and control, and affective or mental states.
Expedia forbids any interaction with or performances by dolphins, whales, and other animals. Animal and Seaside sanctuaries will be permitted, as long as they do not offer any interactions or performances.
Similarly, the travel company does not permit intentional physical contact with other wild animals, including elephants, bears, big cats, gorillas, chimpanzees, and reptiles. It also prohibits wild animal performances that are considered unnatural, i.e: a Circus.
Furthermore, Expedia will stop selling any animal activities offered by venues that are not recognized by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
Expedia's animal welfare policy also says it does not support attractions that breed animals for commercial purposes. Additionally, the company does not allow any activity based on injuring or killing animals, which includes trophy hunting, canned hunting, bear-baiting, animal wrestling, and spearfishing.
Interactions with domesticated animals – such as horses, cows, dogs, and cats will still be allowed by Expedia, but with special limitations.
i.e.: Animal rides and petting zoos interactions are permitted since Expedia continues to work with select accredited zoos and aquariums
Expedia writes on its website.
“A policy is only as strong as the system that enforces it, and we have both automatic processes and manual interventions to do so,”
“Any time we update our animal welfare policies, we give our providers 30 days to comply with the updated policy or face removal from the site.”
