A local travel company specializing in providing pre-planned tours for vegans has won recognition from PETA.
In a news release issued on Jan. 6, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals named Squamish’s World Vegan Travel as one of its inaugural Animal-Friendly African Safaris Award recipients.
“World Vegan Travel is a winner because it offers cruelty-free adventures that respect animals enough to let them live in peace and makes sure guests’ food and toiletry choices are animal-friendly,” says PETA president Ingrid Newkirk in the release. “PETA urges travellers to do their research and choose safaris that respect animals and never allow harmful hands-on encounters.”
PETA said that World Vegan Travel deserved the award because it offers wildlife viewing on protected reserves or in national parks and, among other considerations, maintaining a respectful distance from wild animals and guiding small groups at specific times of the day to minimize stress to the animals.
All the companies who were recognized by this award offer exclusively vegan menus, cruelty-free toiletries and linens, and zero exposure to trophy hunting, the release continued.
For its part, World Vegan Travel’s Brighde Reed told The Squamish Chief the company was thrilled to win this recognition.
“Especially our little small-group travel agency here in Squamish. Many vegans love to go on safaris, but they have particular needs and preferences that most non-vegan tour companies would not think to offer,” Reed said.
“We can't wait to widen our group-tour offerings to vegans — and the vegan-curious — who want to travel in a way that aligns with their values.”
*Please note that this story was updated after it was first posted to include a quote from Brighde Reed.
