MEDIA RELEASE: 12,000 Call on “Eco-Friendly” Hotel del Coronado to Stop Trapping and Killing Wild Animals

December 15, 2021 -

CORONADO, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2021) — In Defense of Animals has been joined by thousands of members of the public in calling on “eco-friendly” Hotel del Coronado in San Diego County to stop trapping on its property after a whistleblower reported native wild animals being killed.

The 757-room oceanfront resort, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, was Green Seal certified in 2011 and became the first historic hotel to achieve Silver Level Green Seal Certification in 2016, which was awarded for progress against “climate change, waste, natural resources and health and well being — achieving higher standards of care and stewardship for the environment…”

However, the hotel is alleged to be contracting with Ecolab to trap and kill numerous animals on its property, including skunks and opossums, who are widely understood to be beneficial to the environment, and has also reportedly caught cats.

Through In Defense of Animals’ alert, more than 12,800 people wrote to Hilton and Hotel del Coronado, calling on management to cut ties with the company and implement humane, non-lethal alternatives that prevent conflicts with wild animals.

“It’s heartbreaking that Hotel del Coronado is choosing to trap and kill wild animals when there are so many alternatives readily available, and even more troubling that this legendary beachfront hotel has been greenwashing its operations,” said Lisa Levinson of In Defense of Animals. “We hope public pressure encourages Hotel del Coronado to implement nonlethal alternatives and hotel management to accept our expert help to become true environmental stewards who coexist peacefully with native wild animals.”

Trapping is especially troubling considering efforts in California to ban this archaic practice. The state passed the Wildlife Protection Act of 2019 making it the first to protect furbearing animals by banning recreational and commercial trapping and fur sales. In California it’s also illegal to relocate and release trapped animals, which is an automatic death sentence.

Southern California-based attorney Alan Kang of AK LAW ACPC reached out to the hotel to see if it would voluntarily adopt non-lethal methods of wildlife management. Despite sending a letter and requesting a response, there has been no communication from the hotel to date regarding this issue. He stated, “We strongly encourage the Hotel Del Coronado to take advantage of the numerous educational resources offered by In Defense of Animals, which ultimately lead to a win-win situation for the hotel, the environment, and our native wildlife.”

Contacts: 

Lisa Levinson, lisa@idausa.org, 215-620-2130

Alan Kang, alan@aklawacpc.com, 714-388-6937

https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/latest-news/media-release-hotel-del-coronado-urged-to-stop-greenwashing-trapping-wildlife/

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and a 38-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/wildanimals