On behalf of Save the Asian Elephants, pollsters Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now have run a poll about the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.
Fieldwork was conducted from 8–9 July 2025, with a sample size of over 2,000. Respondents were asked a set of questions about welfare of animals abroad and the legislation.
The main findings are:
Below you can find a results breakdown for each question of the poll and what the data conveys.
Respondents were given an initial preamble:
Asian elephants used in tourism are taken from the wild when young and trained into obedience. This involves isolation, deprivation of food, water and sleep, and beating and stabbing with rods, chains and bullhooks. This treatment sometimes results in death. Other endangered species can also suffer and die in tourism such as monkeys, lions, tigers, bears and dolphins. People themselves can die or be injured by captive wild animals.
Critics say this is cruel and that more humane standards and ethical tourism should be encouraged to protect these endangered species, some of which are nearing extinction.
Supporters say it gives entertainment to tourists, creates jobs for locals, and that western countries shouldn't impose their values and culture on others.
Two years ago Parliament passed a law allowing the government to ban British adverts for such practices happening abroad which would be illegal here.
and then asked the first question:
Q1. "Do you support or oppose this law?"
| Response | All voters | Age 18-34 | Age 35-54 | Age 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support strongly | 67% | 62% | 70% | 67% |
| Support | 21% | 26% | 20% | 19% |
| Neither support nor oppose | 7% | 8% | 5% | 7% |
| Oppose | 2% | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Oppose strongly | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% |
| Net support less oppose | 82% | 83% | 85% | 79% |
Table excludes those who didn't know or preferred not to say (21%)
There is very strong support for this law. Eighty-two per cent of the public support it, with only 5pc opposed. A further 7pc are neutral.
There was support across all demographic categories, broken down by age, social class, region, political affiliation, and so on. The biggest driver of opinion was age, with older voters slightly more strongly supportive, but younger voters are also heavily supportive with 83pc net supporting.
Respondents were given a second preamble:
The government has not yet used the powers provided by Parliament to ban British adverts for practices involving such treatment. About 1,200 UK based companies currently advertise some 300 or more venues like that.
and then asked the second question:
Q2. "How much of a priority should it be for the government to carry out the ban on British adverts for these practices?"
| Response | All voters | Age 18-34 | Age 35-54 | Age 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very high priority | 33% | 22% | 30% | 42% |
| High priority | 28% | 23% | 28% | 31% |
| Medium priority | 22% | 31% | 25% | 16% |
| Low priority | 13% | 19% | 13% | 8% |
| Not a priority at all | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Net high less low | 45% | 22% | 41% | 62% |
Table excludes those who didn't know or preferred not to say (24%)
The public think that the government should make this a high priority, with 61pc saying 'very high' or 'high' and only 16pc saying 'low' or 'no' priority. Again, older voters are a bit more keen, but three-quarters of young voters think it should be a medium priority or higher.
Q3. "How would you feel if the government did not carry out the ban on British adverts for these practices?"
| Response | All voters | Age 18-34 | Age 35-54 | Age 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very pleased | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Pleased | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
| Neither pleased nor cross | 21% | 26% | 22% | 17% |
| Cross | 31% | 33% | 32% | 29% |
| Very cross | 43% | 35% | 44% | 48% |
| Net cross less pleased | 70% | 62% | 73% | 72% |
Table excludes those who didn't know (21%)
A clear majority of voters (74pc) would feel 'cross' if the government did not carry out the ban with only 4pc saying they would be 'pleased'. This feeling was felt across all the demographics groups, though older groups were less likely to be neutral or unsure.
Q4. "How confident are you that the current government is committed to promoting ethical animal tourism and protecting endangered species?"
| Response | All voters | Age 18-34 | Age 35-54 | Age 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% |
| Somewhat confident | 19% | 21% | 19% | 17% |
| Not very confident | 47% | 46% | 48% | 46% |
| Not at all confident | 31% | 27% | 31% | 33% |
| Net confident less unconfident | −56% | −48% | −59% | −58% |
Table excludes those who didn't know (28%)
A clear majority of voters (78pc) are not confident that the government is committed to ethical animal tourism and protecting endangered species. Only 22c are 'somewhat' or 'very' confident. Again this is true across all demographics and political affiliations. Only 34pc of Labour voters are confident in their own government on this question, and 66% are unconfident.
Q5. "Do you agree or disagree that British tourists should be protected from unknowingly supporting animal cruelty through misleading or unethical adverts?"
| Response | All voters | Age 18-34 | Age 35-54 | Age 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 48% | 43% | 45% | 52% |
| Agree | 36% | 40% | 38% | 32% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 9% | 13% | 8% | 8% |
| Disagree | 4% | 2% | 5% | 4% |
| Strongly disagree | 4% | 2% | 5% | 4% |
| Net agree less disagree | 76% | 79% | 73% | 76% |
Table excludes those who didn't know (20%)
An overwhelming majority of voters (84pc) think that British tourists should be protected from unknowingly supporting animal cruelty. Only 8pc disagree. There was relatively little variation across demographic categories.
Q6. "How important do you think it is that the government should follow the laws passed by Parliament?"
| Response | All voters | Age 18-34 | Age 35-54 | Age 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very important | 71% | 60% | 72% | 77% |
| Fairly important | 20% | 23% | 20% | 17% |
| Mildly important | 6% | 12% | 6% | 3% |
| Not very important | 2% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
| Not at all important | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| Net important less unimportant | 88% | 78% | 91% | 91% |
Table excludes those who didn't know (20%)
A very strong majority (91pc) of people think it is 'fairly' or 'very' important that the government should follow the laws passed by Parliament. Only 3pc think it is 'not very' or 'not at all' important. Younger people are more likely to say "Don't know", but well over half of them agree it is important.
Supporters of Reform UK and the Green party are also more likely to answer "Don't know", with 23pc and 29pc respectively saying that. Among non-voters, 40pc answered "Don't know".
Duncan McNair, CEO of Save the Asian Elephants, said: "These are resounding results from a large sample of the British public. They could not be clearer and are a timely reminder to Government of the sustained, overwhelming expectation of our people that Government must honour its promises, that they want to end the travel industry's complicity in desecrating of endangered species and that they want the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act implemented without interference from those profiteering from the abuse."
Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus, said:
"Our poll shows that the British public are passionate about animal welfare, even if the animals live far away.
There are very strong majorities for this legislation, and for it to be implemented."
"This support is strong across the political spectrum, young and old, rich and poor, men and women.
it's rare in public opinion to find an issue which so unites the country as much as this one."
Find Out Now polled 2,190 GB adults online between 8-9 July 2025. The sample was weighted to be representative by gender, age, social grade, other demographics and past voting patterns.
Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus are both members of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules.
Data tables for this poll are available here.
Save The Asian Elephants was founded in 2015 as a not for profit association (CIC) of prominent professionals, experts and campaigners that informs public opinion on the brutal capture, beating, poaching and abuse for festivals and tourism of these wondrous but beleaguered creatures and the plunder of their habitat; and exerts influence on governments, politicians and the tourist industry to adopt solutions it advances.
Its CEO is Duncan McNair. He devised and drove the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act. He was named Legal Hero of the Year 2024 by the Law Society of England and Wales.
Electoral Calculus is a pollster and political consultancy specialising in quantitative analysis and modelling for electoral and other market research projects. It has successfully predicted UK general elections since 2010. It was founded by Martin Baxter, its CEO.
Electoral Calculus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules, and is a company partner of the Market Research Society.
Find Out Now is a polling and market research panel with 2.8 million members. Highly profiled respondents can be targeted instantly, with over 100,000 daily responses allowing the delivery of same-day nationally representative sampling.
Find Out Now are a member of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules, and are a company partner of the Market Research Society.