Strictly star Mollie King is flagging up animal suffering by helping British tourists to report abuse they see on holiday.
The Saturdays girl band star is working with international wildlife charity Born Free to launch the pioneering website.
Called Raise the Red Flag, and backed by British Airways, it will also help animal lovers to avoid visiting offending places – both in the UK and abroad.
New Born Free patron Mollie said: “I want to do all I can to shine a light on the reality of captivity for wild animals, and Raise the Red Flag is an important project for everybody to be able to do that.”
“A few years ago, I was lucky enough to join Born Free in rehoming captive bears from Georgia to a Greek sanctuary.
“Seeing how badly the bears had been treated before they were rescued – some of them being forced to ‘dance’ on hot stones for tourists appalled me.
“The trip also made me realise there is so much work to do to end these horrific activities.
“I am so pleased Born Free exists and is doing everything it can to end the exploitation of wild animals.
“I’m so excited about lots of things we have planned for my patronage, in particular the launch of Raise the Red Flag.”
Born Free’s Dr Chris Draper said: “Many people may have seen a captive wild animal in distress.
“They may have visited a zoo, a tourist attraction or stumbled across abuse of captive wild animals and felt uncomfortable or concerned.
“They can find it difficult or daunting to speak out, or simply do not know who to contact.
“Our new Raise the Red Flag system will allow supporters worldwide to report incidents of suffering.”
- For more information or to report animal abuse visit bornfree.org.uk/red-flag-locations
