IF you only do one thing this week help stamp out animal cruelty. Have you seen animals kept in poor conditions in a zoo, at a circus or during a safari park visit?
What about when you travelled abroad? If you suspect an animal is being mistreated - either at home or in another country - you can report the incident to the Born Free Foundation's Travellers' Animal Alert service which seeks to stamp out animal cru
elty and neglect.
Every year the service receives thousands of reports from holidaymakers about animals kept in atrocious and barbaric conditions.
It might seem a novelty to watch a dancing bear or have your photo taken with a cute-looking baby monkey, but your smile would definitely disappear if you saw how some of these animals are cared for.
Frequently taken from the wild when very young, they are often drugged or de-clawed and live out their miserable lives in chains.
The Travellers' Animal Alert team investigates any report of animal suffering and works with tour operators, travel companies, foreign governments and other organisations to help improve the welfare of these animals.
If you've witnessed any form of animal abuse, you can file a report on the Born Free website (www.bornfree.org.uk/TAA) or call its Travellers' Animal Alert hotline on 0845 003 5960.
It's vital you supply as much information about your experience as possible, especially videos or photographs as this kind of evidence is invaluable.
Daniel Turner, spokesperson for the Born Free Foundation told Green Life: "We want to hear from any members of the public who have witnessed animal neglect and cruelty during their holidays and we will do our best to investigate their concerns.
"Your report could help us make a real difference to animals in need."
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