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Zoos have always been controversial because animal activists claim that the animals are being kept out of their natural habitat where they really belong. But some conservationists would argue that some animals and even some endangered species cannot live in the wild. And these types of zoos provide a second life to animals that would otherwise have died.
However, the concerns of animal activists are also valid and this point was proven in the case of Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo when footage appeared last December showing a painfully thin elephant that was forced to perform in front of a crowd.
The video sparked a firestorm of outrage from animal activists that included PETA. They called for tour companies to stop carrying the zoo as a destination and fortunately, Asia’s biggest travel agency took action.
Ctrip is a Chinese company that also owns Skyscanner, Tours4fun, and Trip and deals with millions of holidaymakers every year making it Asia’s biggest online booking company. The company decided to stop selling tickets for trips to the zoo.
However, the zoo is still in business and a video was taken that still shows animals in appalling conditions. Chained-up elephants could be seen rocking their heads from side to side which is a signal for “psychological distress.”
With Ctrip ditching the zoo, PETA has asked other tour operators to follow suit.
Spokesman Jason Baker said: ”Ctrip did the right thing in nixing tickets to this despicable, abusive, brazen operation. PETA is calling on all travel companies still offering excursions to such facilities to follow Ctrip’s compassionate, business-savvy example and strike exploitative businesses from their itineraries.”
PETA added that ”zoo handlers jabbed elephants with sharp metal spikes and forced them to give rides and perform tricks such as bowling, painting, and dancing.”
Elephants were also prevented from interacting with each other and ”continuously swayed back and forth, a symptom of psychological distress.”
Asian Black Bears that could also be found in the zoo were seen nervously scratching against the sides of a concrete pool. Crocodiles swam in filthy ponds and returned to cramped enclosures while gorillas and tigers are crammed in tiny cages.
The zoo, which is located just south of Bangkok, refused to comment on the allegations.