The leading entrepreneur and TV personality says “whales and dolphins, whether wild-born or captive-bred, do not – and cannot – thrive in captivity.”

Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden is calling on travel giant ABTA to add visiting cruel marine parks to its list of “unacceptable” practices.

The highly successful entrepreneur has written a letter on PETA’s behalf to ABTA to urge UK’s largest travel association to stop promoting SeaWorld, which confines sensitive cetaceans in unnatural conditions.

The association already lists direct contact between elephants and tourists as an unacceptable practice in its itineraries and the push is to get cetaceans included as well.

‘Abhorrent’

“The more we learn about these complex and highly intelligent animals, the more abhorrent their captivity for human entertainment looks,” Meaden wrote.

“The evidence is clear: whales and dolphins, whether wild-born or captive-bred, do not – and cannot – thrive in captivity.”

Following PETA’s anti-SeaWorld campaigns, a slew of companies have stopped promoting the marine park, including Your Co-op Travel, British Airways Holidays, Virgin Holidays, STA Travel, Premier Holidays, and Tripadvisor.

Is Deborah Meaden vegan?

 Meaden, who has long advocated for animal welfare, took the plant-based plunge in 2020.

Lat October, in a post on Twitter, the star replying to a fan who ‘wished’ Meaden would ‘walk the walk’ by ditching animal products said: “And as if by magic… ta da !! I have gone plant-based.

“It’s been 10 months.”

When questioned about her Vitamin B12 levels, Meaden replied: “I get mine from Oat drink, fortified cereals, marmite and yeast and have blood tests and my nutrient levels are good so I’m guessing ok.”

• Read: Boiling lobsters alive could be banned in new UK animal welfare bill

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