Victory! NHL Drops Cruel Alligator All-Star Weekend Plans After Push From PETA

Published by PETA.

After hearing from PETA and over 37,000 supporters, today the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Florida Panthers confirmed scrapping plans to incorporate live alligators during All-Star Weekend. In thanks for dropping the stressful spectacle that had been planned with a notorious Florida roadside zoo, PETA is sending vegan, alligator-shaped chocolates to the NHL.

American Alligator Swimming in Everglades© iStock.com/MarkKostich

“Hauling live alligators in front of noisy crowds for a silly stunt would have been downright medieval, and the NHL was right to nix these plans,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “For saying ‘See you later, alligator’ to this cruel event and seedy roadside zoo, the NHL is winning PETA’s praise.”

Gatorland—which the NHL confirmed as the roadside zoo involved—allows visitors to wrestle alligators and has a history of U.S. Department of Agriculture citations for federal Animal Welfare Act violations. This includes citations for dirty feeding receptacles, failure to provide animals with adequate veterinary care, unsafe public feeding, and enclosures that were in disrepair. In 2022, PETA named Gatorland one of the 10 Worst Venues Exploiting Alligators for Entertainment.

alligator in small enclosure at Gatorland Pigeon Forge

 

Get PETA Updates

Stay up to date on the latest vegan trends and get breaking animal rights news delivered straight to your inbox!

By submitting this form, you’re acknowledging that you have read and agree to our privacy policy and agree to receive e-mails from us.

 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind

Close

Monkeys don’t belong in laboratory cages.

By submitting this form, you’re acknowledging that you have read and agree to our privacy policy and agree to receive e-mails from us.

Close

Monkeys don’t belong in laboratory cages.

By submitting this form, you’re acknowledging that you have read and agree to our privacy policy and agree to receive e-mails from us.