Morrissey criticises Jet2holidays for links to marine parks

nme.com:

Morrissey has publicly criticised Jet2holidays for selling tickets to a Tenerife zoo that offers animal shows.The former Smiths frontman wrote a letter to the holiday firm, offering the tour operator to drop its links to the marine parks that continue to use captive orcas and dolphins for public entertainment.Addressed to Steve Heapy, the chief executive of Jet2, the musician expressed that the animals at the zoo belonged in the ocean and should have the ability to socialise and find food — something they are unable to do while kept in a “cramped, concrete tank”.One of the main marine parks that Morrissey referred to was the Loro Parque Zoo in Tenerife, which Jet2holidays sells tickets for and promotes on its website.

The venue was previously featured in the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which explored the premature deaths of orcas held at the resort.“Day in and day out, these animals can do little else but swim in endless circles.

They’re even forced to perform demeaning tricks in exchange for food,” he wrote. “Anyone who thinks that’s entertainment needs to get their head checked.

And anyone who profits from this abuse should be ashamed.”He also labelled the conditions for the bottlenose dolphins to be “bleak”, claimed that they were “crammed together at the marine park in a tank that’s smaller than the car park” and expressed his desire to meet with Heapy to discuss the issue.“I hope I can tell my audience that Jet2holidays is no longer associated with cruel marine parks,” the singer added.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also launched a petition, urging the holiday firm to sever ties with marine parks.