'Change animal law from brutal to ethical and save tourists like my sister'

THE sister of a woman gored to death by an elephant is urging Parliament to ban adverts for holidays where the giant animals are "abused" to entertain tourists.

- Steph Spyro

Helen Costigan has spoken out as the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill is due to return to the House of Lords tomorrow.

She wants politicians to help turn the tourism market in this area from being "brutal and ruthless" to ethical with a ban on promoting holiday venues where animals are forced to perform tricks and give rides.

The Bill applies to England and Northern Ireland.

Handlers are said to train the elephants using a process called Pajan the "breaking of their spirits" - in order to make them obey.

The charity Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) has said the tormented captive creatures have killed 700 people worldwide in a "generation".