New ‘Web of Cruelty’ report exposes Webjet’s shocking connection with animal suffering
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Thinking about booking a wildlife experience with Webjet? Our latest report findings will make you rethink your decision.
Image: Elephant gives high five at an elephant show at A'Formosa Safari Wonderland, Malaysia. Credit: World Animal Protection
Webjet, a popular travel company, markets itself to consumers as one of the best in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, they rank as the worst travel agency for responsible travellers in our latest report ‘Web of Cruelty: How Animals Suffer for Webjet’s Profits’.
Our research revealed Webjet currently promotes and sells tickets to some of the worst captive wildlife entertainment venues in the world – where animals, including elephants, dolphins, and tigers, have endured brutal training.
“It’s appalling that in 2025 Webjet continues to profit from the suffering of dolphins, tigers, elephants and more. People love to see animals on their holiday, but wild animals don’t need to suffer in cruel venues for our entertainment.
“Our report found Webjet is falling behind other popular travel companies like Intrepid, and World Expeditions and global companies such as Booking.com and The Travel Corporation who are doing the right thing by wildlife. These ethical companies don’t sell tickets to low welfare venues and they have established animal welfare policies.
“We were shocked to find that Webjet is currently selling tickets to 31 captive dolphin or orca entertainment venues, with 12 of these linked to sourcing wild dolphins from the brutal Taiji dolphin hunts.
“World Animal Protection has worked with travel companies around the world to create animal welfare policies. Unfortunately, Webjet has refused to engage with us in a meaningful way for animals, so we hope the release of this report will finally move them to commit to a wildlife-friendly future.”
Webjet’s partnership with animal suffering
Webjet partnered with Klook in 2023 and our report shines a light on how this collaboration is significantly fuelling the exploitation of animals.
Webjet has enabled their customers to book from experiences at venues where:
- Elephants are forced to perform under the threat of being beaten with a bullhook
- Dolphins are exploited for shows at venues that have been linked to the blood-filled Taiji dolphin hunts
- Monkeys are dressed up in human clothing and forced to perform in demeaning circus-style shows
- Tigers are forced into close interactions with tourists for photos and perform in circus-style shows
You can help wild animals exploited for entertainment
As a traveller, you can help wild animals by only supporting travel companies that:
- Have a wildlife-friendly policy
- Don’t promote or sell captive entertainment or close encounters with wildlife.
Take a strong stand for wildlife by simply following the steps below:
- Avoid booking with Webjet until they have taken action to stop selling animal cruelty
- Ensure the travel company you book with has an animal welfare policy in place and rules out wildlife entertainment venues
- Choose to see wildlife in the wild. If that’s not possible, there are a handful of responsible venues which provide sanctuary for retired or injured animals who are unable to be released into the wild
- Before booking a wildlife experience, keep in mind that if you can touch or ride an animal, take a photo with them, or see them perform tricks, cruelty is surely involved
Will you join us in sending a strong and clear message to Webjet to stop selling wild animal suffering?
Together, we can give every wild animal a life worth living.
Help end wildlife suffering
Send a strong and clear message to Webjet to stop selling wild animal suffering.
Caught in a Web of Cruelty
Learn more about how wild animals suffer for Webjet's profits.
Donate to protect elephants
You can help give elephants the chance to live out their lives in a calm, peaceful environment.