AN animal welfare charity has called on tour operators to discourage people from going on elephant trekking expeditions after a Scottish tourist was trampled to death in Thailand.

PETA said that the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) should take action and place the activity on its its list of "Unacceptable and Discouraged Practices".

The call follows the death of traveller Gareth Crowe, was died on an elephant trek when he was thrown by the animal whichthen attacked him.

The 36-year-old, who was with his stepdaughter, Eilidh Hughes, was trampled on and wounded by the elephant' during the attack earlier this month.

Yvonne Taylor, PETA's Senior Manager of Corporate Projects , said: It's time for the Association of British Travel Agents to look out for elephants and for the well-being of travellers who are unknowingly putting themselves at risk of serious injury or death"

"That's why PETA is asking the association to take a stand now, before anyone else is hurt."

The charity claims that elephants used by the tourism industry are often taken from their mothers as babies, confined to tiny wooden crates, deprived of food and rest, and tied down to prepare them for a life of servitude.

In nature, elephants stay in the company of family and friends and roam up to 30 miles a day, while those used by the tourism industry spend most of their lives chained by two legs.

It also criticised the used of bullhooks to keep the animals under control, and warned that they are at risk of contracting tuberculosis, which can pass from people to elephants.

Mr Crowe, who was originally from Islay, died at the scene while his stepdaughter escaped with minor injuries. It is believed the incident happened when the elephant's handler climbed down to take photographs of the pair and the animal went berserk.

There are estimated to have been around about a dozen incidents similar to this over the past 15 years.