PETA welcomes Bali order ending elephant rides

Animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has welcomed an order by a provincial conservation agency in Indonesia to end elephant rides at tourist attractions in Bali, citing growing concerns over animal welfare.

In a statement, PETA described the move as a significant step toward more ethical tourism practices, saying it sends a strong message against the exploitation of elephants for entertainment.

“Indonesia has officially ended cruel elephant rides nationwide, marking a major step forward for compassionate tourism and a huge blow to the elephant-exploiting industry,” the group said, referring to the impact of the Bali directive.

Animal rights advocates have long warned that elephant rides often rely on harmful training methods and place physical strain on the animals. PETA said the decision reflects increasing awareness among authorities and travelers about the need to protect wildlife used in tourism.