Thomas Cook ends sale of all attractions with captive cetaceans

“We know that for our customers going to a zoo or an aqua park is an important part of their holiday and we only want to offer those experiences when we’re confident they abide by the highest welfare standards and are not built on animal suffering," said Cook chief executive Alan French.

"We have taken the decision to offer only wild-watching experiences for whales and dolphins to help our customers experience these intelligent and sociable animals in their natural habitat."

French added that while bookings had rebounded strongly post-pandemic, the brand had also witnessed a fall in demand "for activities that harm the environment or animals". "Our customers care about these issues, and we are proud to be matching those sentiments," French continued. "It has been an easy decision to make.”