No More Dangerous And Inhumane Ostrich Ride Promotions From Tribes Travel

For Immediate Release:

19 December 2014

Contact:

Ben Williamson +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 229; [email protected]

UK Travel Company Takes Cue From PETA Supporter and Agrees to Omit Ostrich Ride Images From Future Brochures

London – A PETA supporter’s letter was the deciding factor in a positive policy change for Tribes Travel, a small, family-run company providing specially tailored vacations for travellers abroad. When the supporter initially spotted a Tribes brochure featuring ostrich rides, she feared for the animals as well as unsuspecting tourists, and after receiving her thoughtful, detailed note, Tribes confirmed that it will no longer promote such images and will, in fact, discourage tourists from seeking out ostrich rides in the future.

“Like all wild animals, ostriches avoid human contact in the wild, and they can be seriously injured when forced to carry human beings”, says PETA Director Mimi Bekhechi. “PETA encourages travellers to follow the compassionate example set by Tribes Travel and avoid any establishment offering wild-animal rides.”

The ostrich skeleton is not designed to support a human’s weight, and this practice is likely to harm the physiology of the animals. Human riders also risk serious injury and even death, as these wild animals prefer to avoid human contact in natural environments.

Tribes Travel’s compassionate move follows an announcement earlier this year by STA Travel, the world’s largest student travel company, that it was severing all ties with SeaWorld after discussions with PETA, as well as halting the sale of elephant rides and visits to Thailand’s notorious Tiger Temple. PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”, encourages all tourists to spare animals in captivity a lifetime of suffering by always choosing animal-free thrills abroad and at home.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

#