Thomas Cook has reasserted its commitment to stop selling animal excursions that fall short of welfare standards.
Animal rights group PETA is demanding Cook stops selling SeaWorld tickets.
Today campaigners from the group staged a protest outside Cook’s offices in London as its AGM was taking place.
PETA US has also become a shareholder in the company Cook so representatives could attend the meeting and speak to other shareholders.
In 2016 Cook unveiled a new animal welfare policy following an initial audit of animal attractions, the results of which chief executive Peter Fankhauser said were “disappointing”.
A full audit of Cook’s excursions began last year and SeaWorld is one of the next attractions to be checked, according to Fankhauser.
Speaking after the company delivered its first quarter results today (Thurs), Fankhauser said Cook has “an ambition to improve” standards and if SeaWorld was found to fall below those standards it would stop selling it.
This week, the company agreed to stop promoting SeaWorld on its website.
“We want to improve the welfare of animals and we are following our process,” Fankhauser said.
“We are in constant talks (with PETA) but we are not just following pressure from pressure groups.”
Tui and British Airways are among other holiday companies which also sell and promote the attraction.
Asked why he thought Cook was being singled out by PETA, Fankhauser said: “It’s clear PETA felt that we took the lead in this policy so they perhaps targeted us because we publicly stated our ambition. They target the leader because that will have the biggest impact.”
In a blog on the company’s website, Fankhauser wrote: “We’ve audited 46 animal excursions and removed 29 of them from sale because they failed to meet our standards. We’ve now audited a third of all the attractions we offer, and we intend to audit the remaining 65 during the course of 2018.
“By taking a considered and methodical approach, we have improved the welfare of thousands of animals, and I am more determined than ever to continue along the path we’ve set out.
“I maintain this view, in spite of the actions of a group of activists who have chosen to target Thomas Cook precisely because we’ve publicly stated our ambition to improve standards.
“Rather than fight against us, I’d urge them to work with us in order to effect real change across the industry.
“I continue to be committed to driving sustainable change in this area. Our customers expect nothing less.”
A statement issued by SeaWorld said: “We have been in discussions with Thomas Cook and other tour operators about their animal welfare guidelines and their intention to audit our facilities, and we continue to work collaboratively with them throughout this process.
“SeaWorld parks already operates to the highest animal welfare standards and meets the strict accreditation process of several of the world’s foremost zoological accrediting bodies. We are confident that the world-class animal care and rigorous standards already in place at SeaWorld will meet the Abta guidelines.”
Fankhauser said Cook was also “open to reviewing its plastic use” as part of its sustainability strategy, following a number of travel firms which have committed to abolishing or cutting its use.