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Cambodia tourism: Call to end rides after elephant's death | Cambodia tourism: Call to end rides after elephant's death |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Thousands of people have signed a petition against elephant riding after an animal ferrying tourists to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia died. | |
The elderly elephant had been working in a 40C (104 F) heatwave. | |
The tour operator has pledged to reduce elephants' working hours until temperatures drop. | The tour operator has pledged to reduce elephants' working hours until temperatures drop. |
But the petition asks authorities in the Angkor region to ban elephant-riding outright. | But the petition asks authorities in the Angkor region to ban elephant-riding outright. |
Cruelty is often "hidden from view", the petition says, causing a "lifetime of misery" for the animals, and the elephant's death should be "a wake-up call". | Cruelty is often "hidden from view", the petition says, causing a "lifetime of misery" for the animals, and the elephant's death should be "a wake-up call". |
Animal rights groups have long complained of cruel training practices used on captive elephants. The charity World Animal Protection named elephant rides as the top most cruel holiday activity in a list it created for campaign purposes. | Animal rights groups have long complained of cruel training practices used on captive elephants. The charity World Animal Protection named elephant rides as the top most cruel holiday activity in a list it created for campaign purposes. |
Some tour companies including STA, Intrepid and Costco have now stopped promoting the activity. | |
Oan Kiri, a manager at Angkor Elephant Company, told AFP news agency the female elephant had collapsed after working for 45 minutes and walking 2.1km (1.2 miles). | |
"Veterinarians concluded that the elephant's death was caused by the hot temperatures which caused stress, shock, high blood pressure and a heart attack," he said. | "Veterinarians concluded that the elephant's death was caused by the hot temperatures which caused stress, shock, high blood pressure and a heart attack," he said. |
It had been aged between 40 and 45 years, which is towards the end of an Asian elephant's lifespan. | It had been aged between 40 and 45 years, which is towards the end of an Asian elephant's lifespan. |
Asian elephants are classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are about 70 domesticated elephants in Cambodia. | Asian elephants are classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are about 70 domesticated elephants in Cambodia. |
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