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Travel Daily News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel Daily News
Elewana Collection revamps two safari icons in Kenya
NAIROBI, KENYA – Elewana Collection, an operator of award-winning boutique lodges and safari camps across Kenya and Tanzania, has unveiled significant renovations and refreshed culinary concepts at two of its iconic Kenyan properties: Elsa's Kopje Meru, and Elephant Pepper Camp in the Maasai Mara. Elewana, part of international hospitality group Minor Hotels, is known for its commitment to conservation, community, and classic East African hospitality. The latest enhancements exemplify that ethos, elevating the guest experience while remaining deeply rooted in each property's natural surroundings, cultural heritage, and distinctive character. Elsa's Kopje Meru: A Living Legacy, Reimagined Perched dramatically above the savannah in Meru National Park, Elewana Elsa's Kopje is a lodge steeped in history. Named after the orphaned lioness made famous by conservationists George and Joy Adamson in the 1996 film Born Free, the lodge is built into the rocky hillside above the Adamsons' former camp. Since opening in 1999, Elsa's Kopje has become an icon of responsible luxury and timeless safari charm. The latest renovations pay tribute to this legacy while enhancing comfort and design throughout the lodge. All guest suites now feature upgraded furniture, Nero-finished bathroom floors, and reimagined lighting that accentuates the lodge's organic architecture and expansive views. The expansive Private House has also been elevated with a luxurious new bath and redesigned outdoor shower. Communal areas reflect the same attention to detail: the main and private pools have been refinished with terrazzo tiles, offering a refreshed setting for relaxation between game drives. A new in-house sundowner space provides the perfect stage for evening G&Ts overlooking Meru's vast wilderness, with a new outdoor cinema screening the film, Born Free, set to be launched in the area within the month. The spa has been expanded, offering a more spacious retreat for wellness rituals. 'Careful attention has been paid to ensure the refreshed Elsa's Kopje still holds the heart and soul of what makes it so special,' said Callum Oliver, Operations Manager Kenya at Elewana Collection. 'Whether it's your first visit or your fifth, the updates enhance the comfort and elegance of the lodge without losing the deep connection to the wilderness and history of Meru.' The lodge's updated culinary direction celebrates Kenya's rich gastronomic traditions, blending comfort and authenticity. From slow-simmered local stews and grilled meats to elevated breakfasts featuring yoghurt parfaits, fresh pastries, and vibrant garden fare, each dish is a reflection of the land and its culture.
South Wales Argus
07-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Ruth Jones MP renews calls to ban UK trophy hunting imports
Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, hosted a parliamentary event on July 3 organised by animal welfare groups FOUR PAWS UK, Born Free, and Humane World for Animals UK, marking 10 years since the lion's death reignited global debate over trophy hunting. Ms Jones said: "I was proud to stand on a manifesto which committed to ban the import of hunting trophies last year and deliver the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation. "I hope that we can be the Parliament to finally deliver this legislation and can protect more animals from having to suffer the same fate as Cecil." Cecil was killed in Zimbabwe in July 2015 by American dentist Walter Palmer, who shot the animal with a bow and arrow. The lion died after 10 hours of suffering. Dame Joanna Lumley, patron of the Born Free Foundation, also spoke at the event. She said: "The brutal, senseless killing of Cecil a decade ago shocked and enraged me as it shocked and enraged the world. "Cecil's death cannot be in vain."
The Sun
06-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Inside exotic animal trade with 12 LIONS among dangerous wild pets kept at Brits' homes – map shows if you live near any
SCORES of deadly wild animals, including lions, crocodiles and venomous snakes, are being kept as pets by Brits in their homes. Many have been bought online via social media ads or on Gumtree, and current legislation does not require an owner to have any training on how to handle them in a lot cases. 9 9 And while some more regulated set ups, aside from traditional zoos, house such animals, including Heythrop Zoological Garden or the Strelley Wildlife Conservation Facility in Nottingham, a large number on the list are kept at people's homes. The latest figures, from 2023, show 2,700 such "dangerous" creatures - and which require a licence to keep - were officially registered at 187 private addresses across 126 local authorities in the UK. That includes a dozen lions, 11 pumas, and 16 different types of crocodile, including a saltwater croc, which can grow up to 20ft, in North Yorkshire. 'Hybrid' beasts, including from breeding a domestic cat with an exotic wild feline, are growing in popularity thanks to social media influencers, with a "loophole" meaning many don't even need a licence. There's also a rising trend of Brits realising they can't cope and abandoning such animals, in part due to the cost of living crisis and Covid pandemic. And some species - either let go or escaped - have gone on to thrive in the UK, creating colonies that challenge native wildlife. Chris Lewis, captivity research manager for Born Free, told The Sun: 'In terms of the current legislative landscape within the UK, it's legal to keep pretty much any wild animal as a pet… it's largely unregulated.' Asked what sort of person is keeping a creature considered a 'dangerous' exotic predator, like a big cat or deadly snake, he said: 'Some would suggest it's a status symbol or an adrenaline-fuelled purchase. 'They may have kept other wild animals in the past, but then they wanted something which was increasingly more challenging.' He continued: 'Some people feel a connection to those animals. Others feel like they are perhaps rescuing that animal from wherever they got it from, and also sometimes keepers feel that by keeping those animals they are in some way helping with the conservation of that species. 'However, those claims are highly questionable, and they are hard to justify.' The most popular deadly exotic beast for such Brits is the rattlesnake, with more than 70 of the venomous species, which hails from the Americas, registered on these shores. But perhaps most worrying is that the majority, if not all, will not have been defanged and so can still kill someone within a matter of hours if a bite goes untreated. Chris said: 'What can happen is sometimes the teeth can be removed that are used by the snake to inject the venom, but that's commonly seen as a violation of their welfare. 'So I would say that in this country, the majority, if not all of privately kept venomous snakes would still be capable of injecting their venom.' A venomous snake would be kept in a highly-secure, regulated tank, and for obvious reasons, it can't be taken out and petted. Chris says it's possible that some of these private owners operate as some kind of business, perhaps offering training on handling these snakes - though that's not the case for the majority. He said legislation is patchy in the UK, with 'no real requirement' for an owner to have 'any training in how to care or look after these animals'. Chris explained: 'There's a small number of species categorised as dangerous, which you require a license to keep - venomous snakes, lions, for example. 9 9 9 'For the rest, it's largely unregulated. You can keep whatever you want, so there's nothing illegal about what people are doing but it raises questions as to whether the current landscape is fit for purpose.' Earlier this year, 32-year-old Ashley Betts claimed he didn't know a Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) licence was needed to keep exotic creatures after police discovered a 4ft American alligator called Cliff in a tank in his garden in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. He pleaded guilty to breaching the Dangerous Wild Animals Act at Sheffield Magistrates' Court in March. And while the court heard there was 'no suggestion' that the animal was being kept poorly or was unsafe to other people, Betts - who was fined £1,000 - refused to reveal where he'd got Cliff from, other than through a friend. The trade for such animals is booming, and over the last two decades the ease of access has greatly increased, particularly online, said Chris. 'In the past you either had to know somebody or a pet shop near you had to stock the animal that you were wanting to keep,' he explained. 'But now people can go online, they can search for whatever it is that they're wanting to keep or acquire, and there will, in the vast majority of cases, be somebody somewhere online selling that animal.' Chris went on to say: 'In terms of the current legislative landscape within the UK, it's legal to keep pretty much any wild animal as a pet. 'There are only a very few exceptions to that, and those would be species which are considered to be invasive.' An invasive species would be a non-native species that has colonised a new area to the point of damaging the surrounding environment. 9 9 9 According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), tackling invasive species costs the UK roughly £1.8billon per year globally. But such invasive animals aren't the beasts on the dangerous animals list that people need a licence to own: they're green crabs, killer algae, sea walnuts, lionfish and Pacific oysters. So, the growing trend of keeping dangerous animals from abroad at your home in Britain isn't necessarily contributing to overall environmental damage - but there is still an issue of these animals getting out. Born Free estimated in the first nine months of 2021 there were at least 25 cases of escaped or abandoned exotic pets in Britain. In September of that year, two reticulated pythons - each around 10ft long - were found in the Cambridgeshire countryside. An article on the charity's website said 'despite their size and strength', the large constrictor snakes, which are 'for sale online, at reptile markets and in pet shops across the country', are not included within the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. It added: 'As such, no licence is required to keep them, even though they are categorised under zoo legislation as being likely to cause severe injury or pose a severe threat to life.' The article went on to describe cases in recent years of escaped marmosets in Oxfordshire, wallabies in Cornwall, Savannah cats in Bristol and raccoon dogs in Nottinghamshire. One woman told The Sun her neighbour was startled after finding a large shedded python skin in her back garden in Hampshire in 2022. Chris said the increase in abandoned animals coincided with the Covid pandemic lockdown. 'The general theme for people was that it was being blamed on cost of living, and that they purchased these animals either before lockdown or during lockdown. 'Then the price of looking after those animals either increased, because, particularly with reptiles, you have to provide heating and perhaps humidity control, but also lighting as well, which are all energy consumers, and cost money.' He went on to say: 'All of these animals are too easy to purchase. You can spontaneously buy them with very little thought as to whether you are prepared to look after them in the long term. 'Many of these animals live for 10, or maybe over 20 years, so they are an incredibly long term commitment. 'When people realise how much they cost to look after, or realise they may need to move house, or their circumstances in life change it can often result in the animals being either abandoned, or people wanting to surrender those animals because they no longer can either look after them or want them anymore.' Chris said most exotic animals are unlikely to survive in the wilds of the UK for long, so the prospect of people being stalked by pythons on their dog walks in the wilds of the Cotswolds are unlikely. 'There was no evidence of exotic snakes being able to survive in the UK,' he explained. 'So whilst they may survive for a short period in the summer, as soon as the weather changes and the temperatures drop, those animals sadly die. 'They require heat to maintain themselves, so in contrast to native snake species who go into almost a sort of hibernation state, these snakes don't do that. 'They're active all year round. People may abandon them in the summer, thinking that they will be capable of surviving, but when it comes to winter they would die, sadly.' There are, however, some examples of such exotic animals, not necessarily dangerous to humans, thriving in the UK after being introduced here. There was no evidence of exotic snakes being able to survive in the UK. So whilst they may survive for a short period in the summer, as soon as the weather changes and the temperatures drop, those animals sadly die. Chris Lewiscaptivity research manager for Born Free Born Free wrote that the chance that escaped raccoon dogs could 'establish themselves in the British countryside in the coming decade is considered high', and 'if it came about there could be devastating consequences for our native wildlife'. Chris said recent examples of exotic animals that are believed to have been kept as pets before being freed and establishing themselves on British shores, include 'instances of small populations' of wallabies but 'it's unclear where their exact source came from'. He said: 'Sometimes people say they maybe escaped from a zoo, or sometimes they'll say that they were pets that were released.' The other example is the ringnecked parakeets, which can be found in London, as well as having established colonies in a few other UK cities. 'They're one of the most common recent examples, where they were believed to have been kept as pets and then released, and they established themselves,' said Chris. 'It's still unclear exactly what or if any damage they are causing to the native species, because obviously they will be competing with native birds for nesting space and also for food. But it's unclear exactly what impact they're having at the moment.' Chris explained that many exotic pets traded in the UK are bred in captivity here, while generally only reptiles are still regularly caught in the wild. Savannah cats And another growing trend is the cross-breeding of exotic animals, particularly 'hybrid wildcats', including the Savannah cat, which has become popular recently due to social media influencers. These are a hybrid of a domesticated cat and a serval, and a first generation one is illegal to own without a DWA licence. 'They're considered to be a step up from your common domestic cat, because they're bigger, they're quite striking in appearance and have featured in a number of online videos with influencers or celebrities. 'So they are considered to be a fashionable pet, I guess,' said Chris. 'Once you get into the second generation of Savannah cats, you then don't need a license anymore, which I think helps with their appeal and also that raises questions as to whether that's even appropriate because you have this animal, which is only two generations away from its wild parents, and you suddenly don't need a license for it yet… 'It is quite bizarre, almost a bit of a loophole with the licensing.' Chris said he would encourage people to remember that the domestication of cats and dogs occurred over the thousands of years over multiple generations. 'To assume that an animal after just two generations is suitable and capable of being kept adequately in a domestic environment within the UK is perhaps not appropriate, not advisable,' he continued. 'And any hybridisation of two species which are so noticeably different because the breeding of a domestic cat and a wild cat can be filled with welfare issues for the animals involved. 'I would strongly advise against anyone wanting to purchase a Savannah cat.' Chris said he kept exotic animals as a child but eventually was put off keeping such pets, as well as the idea of zoos themselves, when he learned more about the wild animal trade. 'You kind of realise that it's perhaps not the most appropriate thing to do, and also not in the best interest of those animals that you're keeping. But when you're younger it's seen as something which you can do like… it's something which is almost a cultural norm, which is perhaps something which we need to change. 'Ultimately, in most cases we're doing it for our own, you know our own personal interests, and perhaps not putting the interests of the animal at the forefront of what we're doing.' He went on to say, referring to zoos: 'What benefit do people get from seeing these animals when they're being kept in conditions which aren't natural to them, and they may not be performing natural behaviors? 'You're just learning about what the animal is like when it's kept in captivity and they may be two very different things.' Chris believes the UK needs to 'flip the legislative landscape on its head'. 'A number of European countries have adopted a system called a permitted list system. 'What that does is it builds a set of criteria to assess whether animals are suitable to being kept in a captive environment.' That includes whether they a threat to conservation or a risk to humans. 'Only species which meet all of those criteria are added to the list,' continued Chris. 'It means that there can be more attention given to the specific needs of those animals, so people could be better educated and more well informed of how to look after them.'
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit horrified by donkeys 'frothing at the mouth' made to carry tourists in 31C
Brit tourists have urged a Spanish town to stop using 'emaciated-looking" donkeys for tourist rides after distressing snaps of the animals came to light. Clare Meaning, 48, described how she was left distraught at the sight of the animals after visiting the pretty hillside town of La Cala de Mijas on the Costa del Sol with her family. Expats have taken to Tripadvisor to blast the treatment of the donkeys, which Claire said were forced to endure the sweltering 31-degree heat for lengthy periods, often deprived of water between trips. The donkeys wait in the centre of town, along with some horses, and are routinely harnessed to cart tourists around. Claire said during her visit she witnesses donkeys foaming at the mouth, stumbling down slopes from exhaustion, and trapped standing in their own waste, unable to escape. She was told by a hotel manager where she stayed mention that the donkeys are subjected to these rides every day of the week. Clare, a nutritionist hailing from Blandford Forum, Dorset, notified the Born Free charity, as PETA continues its campaign to persuade the Mijas mayor to instigate change. "The donkeys looked emaciated,' she said. "I'm very animal welfare-minded and this was a completely unnecessary exploitation of animals and there's no need for it. "They weren't even getting water when waiting for a ride. Reasonably frequently they were taken out for rides. We saw one frothing at the mouth and I think the guys that ride them are quite forceful." Clare believes there's a way to keep an eye on this activity and make it safe, but right now, they're being "used like machines". She went on: "I can only guess that this started as a traditional method but over years has been exploited for tourists and the animals are now being used like machines for gain. "It can be done in a way if it's monitored, they do less hours and are well looked after, perhaps. It's really stuck with me and it's very upsetting to see." Other holidaymakers have echoed their dismay in Tripadvisor critiques. One penned: "Mijas is a place with unique beauty, but donkey-taxi is its bad part fixed. I'm sick of going on trips and crossing paths with exploitation of innocents like this, animals spend endless hours in the sun, tied with short ropes without food or water. Working 365 days a year. Miserable." Another shared: "Terrible to look at the poor donkeys standing all day in the heat without water. That tourists are so stupid to ride on them and go to the slippery streets. For me that was once and not anymore." A resident expressed deep concern about the conditions of the Burro Taxi in Mijas Pueblo, a picturesque village nestled in the mountains of southern Spain, detailing a grim scene of neglected animals. "The town of Mijas Pueblo is a beautiful gem in the mountains of southern Spain however a poor piece of it is the Burro Taxi, one look at these beautiful creatures tied up under a poor shelter with no food or water just made my mouth go dry. "There was a lower area where some were tied in the shade but again no food and water available an these sweltering conditions and one donkey was very reluctant to leave the shade but was forced to. Urging tourists to walk instead, they pleaded for immediate action to improve the animals' welfare. "These conditions are not good for them, highly advise walking through the town to experience Mijas to the max and improve the welfare of the Donkeys ASAP!". Lynda Martin, with 30 years of residence near Mijas post her Lake District childhood, shared her repeated yet unsuccessful attempts to prompt changes. She said: "I've tried many times over the years to get them to change it." Observing that despite local authorities acknowledging the problem, no actions have been taken, she criticised their inaction. "Local government always say it's terrible but they never stop anything." Highlighting the appeal of the village, she critiqued the exploitation of donkeys for tourist photos and condemned the hiring practices that lead to animal mistreatment. "It's a very pretty village and people all want pictures with the donkeys and the owners employ halfwits to get these donkey taxi fares." Describing the harsh working hours and inadequate overnight conditions, she painted a picture of neglect. "They work them until midnight and they're just put into lockups in the village, outside. It's stifling hot and they just stuff as many as they can in there." Martin detailed the poor diet the donkeys endure and the resulting health issues. "They're given old stale mushed up bread so they don't have to spend money on proper food." She discussed the miserable condition of the donkeys each morning after carrying out their taxing duties. "Then in mornings they come out all filthy and their feet are cracked and broken from all the rides they do." Concluding with resignation, Lynda Martin indicated that the cruel tradition is here to stay due to its historical roots. Lynda believes the practice won't be outlawed due to it's long-standing tradition. She blasted: "It's been a livelihood for Mijas for a long time and they don't want to let it go. But these donkeys are going to die, they're just slavery there to earn money and that is it. "After years of campaigning, we got them a shelter to stand under and then had to fight even more to get water. It's barbaric. There's no stables, there's nowhere for them to go."
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Brit holidaymakers call for ban on ‘miserable' Costa del Sol seaside attraction
Plus, last year, campaigners called for donkey rides to be banned in a popular UK seaside town Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS have called out a Spanish town to stop using "emaciated-looking" donkeys for tourist rides after photos show them "standing in their own urine" with out water. Clare Meaning travelled to La Cala de Mijas in the Costa del Sol with her husband and five-year-old, but left the hillside town feeling upset by what they saw. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Brits have called out a Spanish town to stop using "emaciated-looking" donkeys for tourist rides Credit: SWNS The 48-year-old alerted Born Free charity, whilst PETA have been lobbying the Mijas mayor Ana Carmen Mata to end the donkey rides in the area. A number of experts have also joined the fight to stop the rides after a number of reviews slammed the town and called for change. The donkeys - and a number of horses - line the centre of the town, waiting for tourists to book a cart ride which the animals then pull along. However, Clare commented that the animals were made to stand in 31C heat for hours on end, often without access to water between rides. Clare - who monitored the situation throughout the day she was in the town - saw that some of the donkeys were even frothing at their mouth. Others were falling down a hill due to fatigue and some were standing in their own urine unable to move. A manager in the hotel Clare was staying at, told her that the donkeys are made to carry out the rides seven days a week. Clare, a nutritionist from Blandford Forum, Dorset, said: "The donkeys looked emaciated. "I'm very animal welfare-minded and this was a completely unnecessary exploitation of animals and there's no need for it. "They weren't even getting water when waiting for a ride. I took my kids to an amazing family-friendly campsite and it has pizza nights, baby donkeys and costs just £5 each a night "Reasonably frequently they were taken out for rides. "We saw one frothing at the mouth and I think the guys that ride them are quite forceful." She added that she believes there is a way in which this practice can be monitored and done in a safe way. However, she also noted that the animals are currently being "used like machines". Clare continued: "I can only guess that this started as a traditional method but over years has been exploited for tourists and the animals are now being used like machines for gain. "It can be done in a way if it's monitored, they do less hours and are well looked after, perhaps. "It's really stuck with me and it's very upsetting to see." Meanwhile, other shocked tourists have taken to Tripadvisor to share their thoughts. 6 Many of the donkeys were seen without water in 31C heat Credit: SWNS 6 Butibamba beach at La Cala de Mijas on the Costa del Sol Credit: Alamy One visitor said: "Mijas is a place with unique beauty, but donkey-taxi is its bad part fixed. "I'm sick of going on trips and crossing paths with exploitation of innocents like this, animals spend endless hours in the sun, tied with short ropes without food or water working 365 days a year. Miserable." Another stated: "The town of Mijas Pueblo is a beautiful gem in the mountains of southern Spain however a poor piece of it is the Burro Taxi, one look at these beautiful creatures tied up under a poor shelter with no food or water just made my mouth go dry. "There was a lower area where some were tied in the shade but again no food and water available an these sweltering conditions and one donkey was very reluctant to leave the shade but was forced to. "These conditions are not good for them, highly advise walking through the town to experience Mijas to the max and improve the welfare of the Donkeys ASAP!" Local resident Lynda, who has lived in and around Mijas for the past 30 years, commented: "I've tried many times over the years to get them to change it. 6 One tourist has even contacted charity Born Free charity, whilst PETA have been lobbying the Mijas mayor Credit: SWNS "Local government always say it's terrible but they never stop anything. "It's a very pretty village and people all want pictures with the donkeys and the owners employ halfwits to get these donkey taxi fares." Lynda also explained how the donkeys work until midnight and then they are just put into lockups in the village. The lockups are also outside so it is "stifling hot" and the ride operators "just stuff as many they can in there". "They're given old stale mushed up bread so they don't have to spend money on proper food," Lynda said. "Then in mornings they come out all filthy and their feet are cracked and broken from all the rides they do." Lynda also believes the practice won't be outlawed due to it's long-standing tradition. 6 Other tourists have called out the town in reviews on Tripadvisor Credit: SWNS She added: "But these donkeys are going to die, they're just slavery there to earn money and that is it. "Over the years we've protested and protested and we finally managed to get a shelter for them to stand under and then we had to protest to get water. "It's barbaric. There's no stables, there's nowhere for them to go." Back in 2019, the town did ban tourists over 12.5 stone from taking donkey rides, however many think this is not enough. Plus, last year, campaigners also called for donkey rides to be banned in a popular UK seaside town.
