HSI and local partner ARCAS help officials learn to safely and humanely care for confiscated wild animals
Humane Society International / Latin America
HSI
PETEN, Guatemala—Responsive to the threat that illegal trafficking poses to wildlife in Guatemala, Humane Society International and its local partner Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre recently provided training on proper handling of confiscated animals to wildlife technicians from the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), and delivered specialized equipment to support their work.
The equipment includes kennels of different sizes, humane cages for birds, mammals, and snakes, herpetological bags, gloves and digital scales, among other resources, to help authorities to safely and properly manage wild animals.
During the workshop, held at the ARCAS Rescue Center in Peten, participants received training on the current regulations in Guatemala regarding wild animals; human-wildlife interactions and coexistence; and the biology and management of reptiles, primates and Psittacidae (birds such as parrots and macaws).
Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, said: “Wildlife trafficking represents a serious threat to animals who are removed from their habitat and illegally sold. That is why HSI supports the work carried out by CONAP in Guatemala, providing equipment and training to its officials so that they can safely and humanely care for confiscated wild animals.”
Fernando Martinez, director ARCAS Peten Rescue Center, said: “It is very important to strengthen biodiversity management in Guatemala, so we work with CONAP’s technical staff to train them on the proper handling and care that trafficked and confiscated wild animals should receive, as well as the equipment to do so. The result will be providing wildlife with the well-being they deserve outside their natural habitat.”
Miriam Quinonez, wildlife and hydrobiological resources manager of CONAP in Peten, said: “Wildlife is key to human survival and the care of wild species must be a priority; all species fulfill particular roles that help maintain the natural balance that gives us life. Wild animals were born to be free, every day we must learn to live and respect our wild urban and rural neighbors.”
According to CONAP, illegal wildlife trafficking in Guatemala ranks third among environmental crimes for the period 2014-2019, with the most cases taken up in the nation’s judiciary branch, only behind crimes committed against forest resources and attacks on natural and cultural heritage. The animals most affected by illegal trafficking are birds, spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, as well as the green iguana and the Jicotea turtle.
BRUSSELS—Today’s decision by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to downgrade the protection of the wolf represents a dangerous step backwards for biodiversity and sets a worrying precedent for wildlife conservation in Europe, according to several animal protection organisations.
Meeting in Strasbourg this week, the Committee agreed to reclassify the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected” under the Bern Convention. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Eurogroup for Animals and Humane Society International/Europe warn that this politically motivated decision undermines decades of slow but steady progress in the recovery of the species.
“This decision disregards science and opens the door to political interference in conservation efforts,” said Ilaria Di Silvestre, IFAW’s Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe. “The wolf is still endangered in many parts of Europe, and weakening its protection will only lead to further conflict and threaten its recovery.”
Dr Joanna Swabe, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Humane Society International/Europe (HSI) added: “The EU decision-making on lowering legal protections for wolves sets a dangerous precedent for other European species, such as bears and lynx. All decision-making relating to the protected status of wildlife species must be based on robust scientific evidence. Instead, decisions on wolves have clearly been driven by political expediency and succeed only in appeasing vocal interest groups, such as hunters, who prefer to take recourse to rifles, rather than seeking coexistence with large carnivores.”
Although the wolf has recovered in parts of Europe, six out of nine European wolf populations remain in a status of near threatened or vulnerable. Conservationists emphasise that protective measures are vital to ensure that the species reaches and remains in a favourable conservation status. If transposed into EU legislation, the downgrade of the wolf’s protection status would allow for greater hunting flexibility, but experience and scientific evidence have shown that culling is an ineffective solution to reducing attacks on domestic animals, as opposed to preventive measures successfully implemented by many farmers across the EU.
Léa Badoz, Wildlife Programme Officer at Eurogroup for Animals commented: “The wolf is unfortunately the latest political pawn, a victim of misinformation. Downgrading protection will not solve the challenges of coexistence nor help farmers. It is based on misconceptions and threatens wolves, while failing to provide real support for farmers and local communities, many of whom are in favour of coexistence with the wolf. Proven coexistence measures must be the priority, and the EU should help through financial means.”
The three NGOs are committed to promoting coexistence with wildlife and closely monitoring any subsequent changes to the EU Habitats Directive, to ensure that the protection of European species is not further compromised.
Investigative footage of wounded foxes and public health regulations being flouted released by HSI/UK
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
HSI
LONDON—Shocking new footage of animals suffering on fur farms in Finland—a country that supplies fur sold in the UK—reveals foxes with raw open wounds, weeping infected eyes and deformed splayed feet. The investigation, carried out in late October by leading animal protection organisation Humane Society International/UK in partnership with Finnish animal protection organisation Oikeutta Eläimille, also found zoonotic disease prevention measures being flouted on the fur farms visited, constituting an alarming public health risk. Investigators, who took biosecurity precautions, also filmed obese “monster foxes” with unnaturally excessive skin folds from selective breeding to increase their fur yield, and foxes displaying repetitive behaviours indicative of mental distress. The UK has allowed imports of more than £16 million of fur from Finland since 2000.
Finland is one of the last remaining European countries in which farming animals for fur remains legal, with the Finnish trade boasting that almost 100% of its fox fur farms are certified by the SAGA scheme (including the WelFur protocol), a set of guidelines promulgated by the Finnish auction house SAGA, which promises “the highest level of animal welfare”. However, the horrifying conditions documented—including on SAGA-assured farms—show the heartbreaking reality of the industry: foxes confined in small, barren cages for their entire lives, never able to feel the grass beneath their feet nor carry out natural behaviours such as running, digging and hunting. Fox fur originating from Finland is used by brands such as Woolrich, Ermanno Scervino, Yves Salomon and Fendi and can be found in UK shops such as Harrods.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International/UK, said: “Finnish fur farms describe having animal welfare as ‘a top priority’ but this investigation tells a very different story. Forced to spend their entire lives in cages only a little bigger than their own bodies, many of the animals we saw were chronically stressed, others had diseased eyes and mouths and some had raw, clearly untreated injuries. In addition, we saw regulations designed to stop the spread of avian flu on fur farms flouted. I’ve visited around 20 fur farms in the past six years and from what I’ve witnessed on every occasion it’s clear that the fur trade routinely disregards both animal welfare and public health.
These appalling conditions are worlds apart from the ‘luxury’ image the fur trade tries to portray, and stores like Harrods should rethink having their brands anywhere near this indefensible suffering. We urge MPs and the UK Government to back Ruth Jones’ Bill to bring an end to Britain’s involvement in the cruel and dangerous fur trade.”
Singer-songwriter and animal advocate Will Young said “Fur is disgustingly cruel and it breaks my heart to see foxes and other animals suffering for this outdated ‘fashion’ product. I’m proud to be joining Humane Society International/UK in urging the Government to support Ruth Jones MP’s Bill to ban imports. We need a Fur Free Britain!”
Outbreaks of both COVID-19 and highly pathogenic avian influenza on more than 500 fur farms in Europe and North America have alarmed scientists and public health officials. Since the avian flu outbreaks on fur farms in Finland in 2023, where the original source of the infection was believed to have been wild gulls, the Finnish authorities have introduced biosecurity measures and mandatory carcass testing periods. They have also introduced regulations requiring the use of netting to prevent wild birds from accessing the housed animals’ cages and their food and drinking water; the netting is required to be checked regularly and any birds observed inside must be removed immediately. HSI/UK investigators found farms risking public health by flouting these rules. In many instances the netting failed to cover the full length of the cages and, on one farm, the decaying body of a wild gull was found just underneath a row of caged foxes.
Kristo Muurimaa of Oikeutta Eläimille said: “Finnish fur farms are a disease disaster waiting to happen. The cages are open to the elements and there’s no way to reliably prevent avian influenza or other possibly dangerous viruses from spreading. We urge the Finnish Government to follow the path of 21 other European countries and ban fur farming, supporting farmers where necessary to secure a rapid closure of this industry.” Although fur farming has been banned in the UK on animal welfare grounds for over 20 years, this cruel and frivolous fashion product is still imported and sold here. HSI/UK estimates that the amount of fur imported into the UK over the five years 2019-2023 equates to approximately 7 million animals brutally killed.
HSI/UK leads the Fur Free Britain campaign for a ban on the import and sale of fur, which has gathered over 1.2 million petition signatures and support from a host of celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Stella and Sir Paul McCartney, Leona Lewis OBE, Alesha Dixon and Strictly Come Dancing’s Pete Wicks.
In October 2024, Labour MP Ruth Jones introduced a Private Member’s Bill to prohibit the import and sale of fur; HSI/UK welcomed the tabling of this draft law as a significant step forward. The Bill proposes to extend existing bans on trade in fur from cats, dogs and seals to include foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchilla, coyotes and other animals killed for fur fashion, and prevent the import and sale of new animal fur from all species. If passed into law, the ban would end the UK’s complicity in the cruelty and public health risk of the global fur trade.
Fur facts:
Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade. The vast majority of animals killed for their fur are kept in barren battery cages on fur farms.
In addition to the physical and psychological torment of being confined in small, barren cages for their entire lives, the methods typically used to kill animals on fur farms are equally distressing. Foxes are typically killed by anal electrocution and mink are gassed.
The UK was the first country in the world to ban fur farming and since then an additional 21 European nations have banned the cruel practice—most recently Romania and Lithuania.
HMRC records show that almost £40 million of fur (£39,703,694) was imported to the UK in 2023 from countries including Finland, China, Spain, Greece and Poland.
During the 2023 outbreaks of avian influenza on Finnish fur farms, where mammal-to-mammal transmission was believed likely to have occurred, the Finnish authorities ordered all the animals on infected farms (around 500,000 mink, fox, raccoon dog and sable) to be killed on public health grounds.
In a July 2023article published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in July 2023, Professor Wendy Barclay and Dr Thomas Peacock of Imperial College London warned that fur farming poses a risk for the emergence of future disease outbreaks and should be considered in the same category of high-risk practices as the bushmeat trade and live animal markets. The PNAS article states that “fur farming takes place in a high-density animal environment that allows for rapid spread of viruses with pandemic potential—and for virus adaptation to animals that would be unlikely to occur in nature.” The virologists also strongly urge governments to consider the mounting evidence suggesting that “fur farming, particularly mink, be eliminated in the interest of pandemic preparedness”.
A September 2024 study published in Nature reporting on viruses found on Chinese fur farms found 39 viruses identified as a ‘high-risk’ for potential to spread to humans, including 13 potentially high-risk novel viruses and 11 zoonotic viruses. Study author Professor Edward Holmes of the University of Sydney, described the fur trade as ‘a roll of the dice’ and noted that fur farms present a ‘clear epidemic or pandemic risk’.
A Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sets out precautionary measures to prevent the spread of avian flu from wild animals to fur animals. Visiting the farms, investigators took full biosecurity protection measures, wearing new bio-suits, shoe covers, and face masks for each farm, and returned negative COVID-19 tests prior to visits.
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Media contact: Sally Ivens, HSI/UK: 07590 559299; sivens@hsi.org
Politicians and campaigners gather in Westminster to urge the Government to end the UK’s role in the fur trade
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
Clive Tagg/For HSI
LONDON—More than 50 cross-party MPs and Peers attended a Parliamentary event calling for an end to fur imports and sales in Great Britain this week, meaning almost 200 MPs now support the Fur Free Britain campaign. Leading animal protection organisations Humane Society International/UK and FOUR PAWS UK organised the event, to encourage the Government to back the Fur (Import and Sale) Bill tabled last month by Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islywn. Adam Jogee, Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, hosted the event, which was also supported by singer-songwriter Will Young.
During the event, appalling new footage from HSI/UK’s latest investigation on Finnish fur farms revealed the cruel conditions in which animals are kept in the fur industry. Attendees heard from cross-party MP speakers—Tim Farron MP, Sir Roger Gale MP, Adam Jogee MP and Ruth Jones MP—as well as Kristo Muurimaa of Finnish animal protection group Oikeutta eläimille who has investigated hundreds of fur farms; Mike Moser, former CEO of the British Fur Trade Association turned Fur Free Britain campaigner, and David Leigh-Pemberton from the British Fashion Council who spoke about the decision to ban fur from London Fashion Week.
Singer-songwriter and animal advocate Will Young demonstrated his support via a written statement read to attendees: “This Labour Government promised to ‘introduce the biggest boost in animal welfare in a generation’ and with [Ruth Jones’] Bill there is a real opportunity to deliver on this promise and make a difference to millions of animals. I hope to see the Government put its full support behind this Bill and make a ban on fur imports and sale one of Labour’s first ambitious improvements for animal protection in this session.”
The UK introduced the world’s first fur farming ban over 20 years ago. Despite this historic step, fur can still be imported and sold in the country. HSI/UK estimates that one million animals’ worth of fur is still imported here annually.
Confined in tiny, barren wire cages for their entire lives, animals on fur farms endure severe physical and mental suffering. They are killed by gassing or electrocution at around eight months old.
After the event concluded, host Adam Jogee MP said: “I hear from my constituents about animal welfare issues on a daily basis and fur is no exception. But fur isn’t just an animal welfare issue, it’s a major health risk. Reflecting on COVID-19 almost five years on, the evidence shows that we cannot honestly claim to be doing all that we can to prevent another pandemic if we continue to support trade in a cruel, frivolous fashion product with shockingly high disease risks. I’m proud that the Labour Party banned fur farming over 20 years ago and now it’s time we take another historic step to protect animals and public health by backing Ruth Jones’ Bill and ending the UK’s role in the fur trade for good.”
Recent polling shows that 77% of the British public support a ban on the import of fur and over 1.2 million Fur Free Britain petition signatures have been gathered. Celebrities including Will Young, Dame Judi Dench, Stella and Sir Paul McCartney, Leona Lewis OBE, Alesha Dixon and Strictly Come Dancing’s Pete Wicks have backed the campaign.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International/UK, said: “The UK took a vital step by banning fur farming two decades ago and now Ruth Jones’ Bill represents a critical opportunity to end our involvement in this inhumane, unnecessary, and dangerous industry. We’re delighted that so many new MPs are joining us in urging the Government to back the Bill, reflecting public opinion that protecting animal welfare and public health are much more important than frivolous fur fashion.”
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The release is part of a joint project between NGOs Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre (ARCAS) and Humane Society International/Latin America
Humane Society International / Latin America
Rodrigo Pop/Images for HSI Latin America
PETEN, Guatemala—Thirty-six wild animals, who were rescued from adverse situations including the illegal pet trade, returned to their natural habitat in the Peten jungle, Guatemala, thanks to the joint work of non-governmental organizations Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre (known as ARCAS) and Humane Society International/Latin America.
Six coatis, eight chachalaca birds, seven opossums, five pygmy owls, three kinkajous and two gray falcons, among others, were released in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, after undergoing an intense rehabilitation process, and with the authorization of the Guatemalan National Council of Protected Areas or CONAP.
Many of these wild animals were illegally removed from their wild habitat to be used as pets. For example, a rescued woolly opossum, whose fur changed color (from brown to almost completely white) because of the inappropriate food provided by the local family that kept him.
Fernando Martinez, director of ARCAS Peten, said: “After carefully monitoring the opossum’s diet and keeping them away from human contact, the fur returned to its natural color and the animal no longer sought human interaction. We also released a white falcon who came to the rescue center with damaged feathers and a leg injury, as it had apparently been tied up for a few days. After treating the wound, its feathers regenerated and the bird once again had the appropriate plumage to fly and return to freedom.”
Andrea Borel, executive director of Humane Society International/Latin America said: “The capture of wild animals for the national and international pet trade is a real problem in Guatemala. These animals are often kept in cramped, inadequate conditions not suitable for their species and denied the ability to exhibit their natural behaviors which can further cause them physical and psychological distress.”
“By supporting and working with our local partner, ARCAS, in rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts, these animals are being returned to freedom and their wild populations are being increased to ensure future breeding in their natural habitat where they belong. We also work together on raising awareness to urge citizens not to buy wild animals as pets and to report any such suspicious activity to the authorities.”
ARCAS carries out the physical, medical and behavioral rehabilitation of victims of wildlife trafficking and exploitative human activities, under strict animal welfare standards. HSI/Latin America and ARCAS have been working together in wildlife protection and conservation in Guatemala since 2007.
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Media contact: Wendy Higgins, HSI’s director of international media: whiggins@hsi.org
Response to Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal's press release on non-lethal solutions to manage approximately 30 so-called ’problem elephants’ in the KwaCeza areas
Humane Society International / Africa
iStock.com
On October 24, the provincial conservation and management authority Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife issued an urgent call for non-lethal solutions for elephant conflict mitigation of roaming elephants following the recent movement of approximately 30 elephants into the Esidakaneni area, posing a potential threat to the safety of the community and the elephants.
The herd of elephants originated from the privately owned Mawana Game Reserve, where they were originally introduced in 2003. Often in cases like this, to mitigate human-animal conflict these animals are killed under a culling or Damage Causing Animals permit by the provincial wildlife authority.
In response to EKZNW’s urgent request for NGOs to assist, Humane Society International/Africa , with support from Wildlife Warriors Africa and another team who wish to remain anonymous, and representatives from Mawana and Loziba game reserves, immediately stepped in and responded with the facilitation and coordination of drones to move the elephants away from the community areas, as a helicopter was not immediately available. The delicate task of humanely shepherding the elephants back to safety was undertaken on October 24 and deemed to be successful. The herd was monitored until after sunset and were seen moving further away from the community areas. The situation was reassessed the next day, and whilst the elephants remained distant from the community areas, a decision was made to dispatch a helicopter with support from HSI/Africa to push the elephants back to Mawana Game Reserve. Teams on the ground confirmed that both the elephants and the community residents are calm.
This is not the first time that these elephants conflicted with local communities. Earlier this year nine so-called “problem” elephants were killed due to supposed overpopulation and human-wildlife conflict. One of the elephants was carrying an unborn calf whilst another elephant was lactating, though her calf was not found.
EKZNW acts as the conservation and management authority and whilst NGOs may be able to conduct activities such as collaring or deploying mitigation strategies NGOs cannot do so without authorisation.
Contrary to a EKZNW press release on October 24, HSI/Africa with Elephants Alive have submitted proposals for humane elephant conflict mitigation solutions for the Mawana elephants since May 2024. This includes a temporary fencing solution, elephant shepherds and workshops, as per their requested mandate providing immediate relief to both the community and elephants. A consortium of other NGO’s also submitted other short to long-term solutions including permanent fencing. Every effort has been made by HSI/Africa and the relevant NGO consortium to have this proposal discussed and either modified or finalised. Since then, this proposal has been submitted multiple times and feedback has been requested from EKZNW, but no approval has been granted. Suggesting a working relationship with EKZNW is nothing new; HSI/Africa has been implementing humane non-lethal elephant population control in line with South Africa’s National Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants since 2020.
Dr. Audrey Delsink, senior wildlife director for Humane Society International/Africa, states: “We are relieved that our efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and prevent potential harm to the Mawana elephant herd and community this week have been successful. We are grateful to work alongside like-minded partners and EKZNW in the last two days’ interventions. However, the time and opportunity to address this matter should have been taken when the proposals were first submitted more than five months ago. We have been trying to work with EKZNW towards a vision of coexistence between the elephants and surrounding communities and coordinate a meeting for months. Now EKZN has arranged to have a meeting with the NGO grouping towards the end of November entitled ‘Towards Co-existence: Government working with NGOs and the communities in Mawana.’ We hope for an open, collaborative and transparent discussion that will craft a viable solution based on prior proposals and constructive dialogue. As conservation NGOs supporting EKZNW in their role as management authority, we are aligned with their guidance and await the urgent decisions concerning this elephant herd.”
HSI/Africa has requested EKZNW to confirm that no destruction of the elephants is to take place within the legal framework whilst deliberation and implementation of the non-lethal proposals takes place.
HSI/Africa and its partner organisations remain committed to assisting EKZNW as the management authority to conserve these animals and protect communities alike.
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Media contact: Leozette Roode, Media Specialist for HSI/Africa: Lroode@hsi.org; +27 (0)71 360 1104
Humane Society International/Europe hails groundbreaking decision for animal protection in Romania
Humane Society International / Europe
HSI
BUCHAREST/BRUSSELS—Humane Society International/Europe is celebrating a monumental victory for animal protection in Romania today, as the Romanian Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban chinchilla and mink fur farming, the only two fur farm industries that exist in the country. This groundbreaking decision is the result of nearly two years of political debates and sustained campaigning by HSI/Europe’s Romania office and fellow animal groups. Romania now becomes the 22nd country in Europe and 16th EU Member State to ban fur farming, marking a significant milestone in HSI’s global campaign to end the cruel practice of breeding and killing animals for fur fashion.
Ruud Tombrock, executive director for HSI/Europe, said: “Today’s decision to ban fur farming is not only a landmark moment for animal protection in Romania, but also a pivotal step in the broader European effort to end one of the cruelest forms of exploitation of animals. As public concern for animal welfare grows across Europe, demonstrated by the overwhelming success of the Fur Free Europe ECI, it is clear that fur farming has no place in a compassionate and ethical society and the only way to move forward is by adopting an EU-wide ban on production of fur.”
The bill was originally proposed after HSI/Europe conducted a shocking undercover investigation exposing appalling conditions on fur farms in Romania. Chinchillas were filmed confined in small, filthy wire cages, only to be killed for fur fashion at just a few months old in improvised gas chambers or by having their necks broken. Now that the bill has been voted through in the Chamber of Deputies, once promulgated it will make fur farming illegal in Romania effective 1st of January 2027. Although the legislation must be promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis and published in the Official Journal to become effective, this is anticipated to pass without delay.
According to a nationwide survey commissioned by HSI/Europe, over 67% of Romanians support a fur farming ban, further emphasizing public sentiment against the fur industry. In addition, HSI/Europe’s campaign in Romania gathered more than 74,000 petition signatures in favor of ending fur farming, which HSI/Europe submitted to the Romanian Parliament.
The fur industry in Romania is in decline, with the number of fur farms having dropped dramatically from more than 150 in 2013 to around a dozen in 2022 including two large mink farms producing approximately 100,000 mink pelts and 15,000 chinchilla pelts annually. The ban in Romania also tackles the environmental and human health hazards linked to fur farming, including the spread of zoonotic diseases, positioning Romania within the broader European movement that emphasizes animal welfare and sustainable practices.
Fur facts:
Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade, the majority reared in barren battery cages on fur farms.
Fur farming has now been banned in 22 European countries—the 16 Member States of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Guernsey, Norway, United Kingdom, North Macedonia and Serbia. In addition, Switzerland and Germany have implemented strict regulations which have effectively ended fur farming and Denmark, Sweden and Hungary have imposed measures that have ended the farming of certain species. Political discussion of a ban is underway in Bulgaria and Sweden.
Mink on almost 500 fur farms across 13 countries in Europe and North America have been found to be infected with COVID-19, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) has been found on 72 fur farms (one in Spain, 71 in Finland) to date. Millions of mink, arctic fox, red fox, raccoon dogs and sable have been slaughtered on public health grounds.
Ten fashion brands in Romania have pledged to go fur-free after working with Humane Society International/Europe, and have become the first designers in Romania to join the global Fur Free Retailer Ioana Ciolacu, Muse um Concept, REDU, OCTAVIA CHIRU, Katerini, Hooldra, Feeric Fashion Week, Scapadona, Axente and Lenca join the almost 1,600 fashion brands, retailers and designers in 25 countries around the world that are part of the Fur Free Retailer program, including Gucci, Moncler, Prada, Adidas, H&M and Zara.
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View images/video are available here. To download these visuals, please contact commsromania@hsi.org
Ask the Secretary of State to support a just-introduced bill to ban fur imports and sales
Labour MP Ruth Jones says UK legislation would ‘shut up shop on the cruel and unnecessary fur trade’
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
HSI
LONDON―A bill to ban UK fur imports and sales will be introduced to Parliament tomorrow by Ruth Jones, Labour MP for Newport West and Islwyn. The Fur Free Britain campaign, led by animal protection charity Humane Society International/UK, welcomed the tabling of this draft law as a significant step forward.
The bill proposes to extend existing bans on trade in fur from cats, dogs and seals to include foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchilla, coyotes and other animals killed for fur fashion, and prevent the import and sale of new animal fur from all species. If passed into law, the ban would end the UK’s complicity in the cruelty of the global fur trade. HSI/UK estimates that the amount of fur imported into the UK over the five years 2019-2023 equates to approximately 7 million animals brutally killed.
Fur farming has been illegal across the UK since the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Acts were brought into force in 2003 under a Labour Government. Despite this, importing fur into the UK and selling it here is still allowed. Fur Free Britain campaigners are calling on the government to strongly back the new bill and finally put an end to this double standard.Their Fur Free Britain campaign is supported by a host of celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Stella and Sir Paul McCartney, Leona Lewis OBE, Paloma Faith, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Alesha Dixon, Kirsty Gallacher and Pete Wicks.
Ruth Jones MP said: “Footage of terrified foxes on fur farms breaks my heart and I can’t comprehend why anyone would inflict this kind of cruelty on an animal for a bit of frivolous fashion. I have heard about the issue from hundreds of my constituents in Newport West and Islwyn and I am delighted to introduce this Bill to reflect their concerns. It is about time we shut up shop on this cruel and unnecessary trade and a fur import ban would send a powerful message to the rest of the world.”
In a studypublished in Nature last month, scientists studying animals farmed for their fur in China identified 39 viruses classed as “potentially high-risk” for transmission to humans, including 13 novel viruses and 11 zoonotic viruses which can be transmitted from animals to humans. The paper’s authors warn that fur farms act as a hub for transmitting viruses. Top British virologists from Imperial College London’s Department of Infectious Disease have also warned that fur farms are a ticking time bomb for another pandemic and that farming mink for fur should be considered the same risk level as the bushmeat trade and live animal marketsdue to the threat it poses for the emergence of future disease outbreaks.
Claire Bass, Humane Society International/UK’s senior campaigns and public affairs director, said: “I’ve looked into the eyes of hundreds of animals on fur farms in Finland and these animals are broken souls, tormented their whole lives in tiny barren wire cages, often suffering agonizing untreated wounds and deformities. We know that millions of British people are disgusted by the fact that animals are suffering like this overseas to end up as a piece of fur trim sold here in the UK, so we are enormously grateful to Ruth Jones for introducing this extremely popular bill for a Fur Free Britain. We urge the Labour Government to back the ban.”
National polling carried out in April 2022 revealed that 77% of British citizens think the government should ban the importation of animal products such as fur, where the production methods are already banned in the UK. The Fur Free Britain campaign has so far gathered over 1.2 million petition signatures calling for a ban on the import and sale of fur in the UK. Most of the world’s major fashion-houses have already gone fur-free, including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Armani.
Sonul Badiani-Hamment, UK country director of FOUR PAWS UK, Fur Free Britain coalition partner said: “Ruth Jones’ Private Member’s Bill presents a powerful opportunity for the Government to end our association with the cruel and high-risk fur trade once and for all. Over two decades have passed since fur farming was banned in the UK by the then Labour Government. Now this Bill presents them with an opportunity to fullyaddress our role in what is left of the cruel trade and stop importing and exporting cruelty for good. By implementing a nationwide ban on the import and sale of fur products, we can help save the lives of millions of animals who are needlessly killed for their fur, and Labour can start fulfilling their promise to deliver the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation.”
Mark Glover, chair of the Labour Animal Welfare Society, said: “We are delighted to be working with Ruth Jones MP on this groundbreaking bill that would put an end to Britain’s role in the horrific suffering endured by animals on fur farms. By banning the import of fur products, Britain will no longer contribute to the unimaginable pain and torment that is needlessly inflicted on animals in the fur trade. The Labour government banned fur farming in the UK over 20 years ago as it offends public morality, and this bill would close the loophole that allows the importation of products that are illegal to produce here. We strongly urge the government to honour the public’s belief in the humane treatment of animals by supporting this bill.”
Recent reports by FOUR PAWS UKand HSI/UKset out the environmental impact of the fur industry and its links to environmental degradation. Harsh chemicals are used throughout the production of fur, including some that are hazardous and carcinogenic. The environmental impacts of mink, fox and raccoon dog fur production significantly exceed those of other materials used in fashion, including cotton and even polyester and acrylic used to make faux fur.A significant component of fur’s carbon footprint is the vast quantity of animal products fed to carnivorous animals on fur farms, and fur farms can also pollute local waterways with manure.
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Media contact: Sally Ivens, senior media manager, HSI/UK: sivens@hsi.org
Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade. The majority of animals killed for fur are reared in barren battery cages on fur farms.
HMRC records show that almost £40million of fur (£39,703,694) was imported to the UK in 2023 from countries including China, Finland, Spain, Greece and Poland.
In addition to the physical and psychological torment of being confined in small, barren cages for their entire lives, the killing methods typically used on fur farms are equally distressing. Mink are killed by gassing, foxes and raccoon dogs are killed by anal electrocution and investigations also show animals commonly bludgeoned to death on farms in China.
Wild animals like coyote and raccoons who are trapped for their fur, fare little better – they can languish in agony in cruel traps for hours or even days before dying from dehydration, starvation, attacks by predators or by being killed when the trapper returns. HSI’s 2022 joint undercover investigation into trapping in the US revealed shocking cruelty and animals suffering protracted and violent deaths. Report available here.
Mink on almost 500 fur farms across 13 countries have been infected with COVID-19 which can be transferred from humans to farmed mink, between mink and from farmed mink to humans. Further, around 500,000 foxes, mink, raccoon dogs and sable have been ordered killed on public health grounds after Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) was found on more than 70 fur farms in Spain and Finland.
The Conservative Government stated it would “explore potential action” on the fur issue under its May 2021 Action Plan for Animal Welfare. It launched a Call for Evidence which attracted around 30,000 responses, of which an FOI request revealed over 96% strongly agreed that it is wrong for animals to be killed for the sake of their fur. Its full findings are yet to be published. At a Westminster Hall Debate in June 2023, a Defra Minister confirmed the Animal Welfare Committee had been commissioned to produce a report, by end of 2024, on “the issue of responsible sourcing in the fur industry, including the animal welfare standards and safeguards that apply to fur imported into this country.” During the June 2023 debate, Labour’s shadow Defra minister, Alex Sobel MP, stated: “a Labour Government would take the necessary action on the importation of fur into Britain. We are committed to this. … A Labour Britain will be a compassionate, fur-free Britain.”
Her powerful images of animal parts support efforts to pressure policymakers to strengthen protections for endangered species and ban hunting trophy imports
Jaschinski’s award-winning photo shows a new magnetic powder being applied to a confiscated elephant tusk. The technique can retrieve fingerprints up to 28 days after poachers handle the tusk, overcoming challenges posed by ivory’s porous nature. Over 200 kits of this powder have been distributed to border forces in Africa and Asia, aiding in cases involving trafficked ivory, tiger claws and rhino horn. The method is valued for its simplicity and effectiveness where DNA techniques cannot be used.
“Whether it is for trophies or to feed the demand for ivory, figures reveal that we are on track to wipe out one of the most iconic species by 2040.” says Britta Jaschinski. “Losing our beautiful elephants in the name of sport, power and greed is simply not acceptable. Lifting fingerprints of ivory and other confiscated wildlife is an important technique in the forensic tool kit and brings hope that we can disrupt and even dismantle entire trade chains. If we can’t save our most charismatic species, what hope is there for others? I am grateful to organisations like Humane Society International/Europe for amplifying these issues and for pushing for real political action to strengthen wildlife protection and in particular right now, to end the import of hunting trophies.”
HSI/Europe admires Jaschinski’s powerful work and has collaborated with her on the Still Life. Delivered– The macabre business of trophy hunting exhibition, which is part of the #NotInMyWorld campaign of the organization. The campaign highlights trophy hunting—the legal and senseless killing of iconic wild animals for sport which has severe environmental, ethical, social and economic impacts. Endangered species such as the hippopotamus, African elephant, African lion, leopard, brown bear and polar bear, turned into lifeless objects—from bottle openers to ashtrays—rendered as such by the barrel of a gun and immortalized by the lens of the camera. HSI/Europe’s campaign calls on the EU and its Member States to ban hunting trophy imports and urges businesses to stop supporting this practice. The Still Life. Delivered exhibition has appeared in Rome and Warsaw, with plans to travel to other cities to spotlight these works that expose how majestic living animals are killed by trophy hunters and turned into grim lifeless objects for mere personal satisfaction.
Through her work, the London-based photographer explores the human-nature relationship and its implications. Known for her distinctive style, she documents wildlife crimes and collaborates with international authorities and environmental organizations. As co-founder of Photographers Against Wildlife Crime™ and creator of The Evidence Project, she advocates for public awareness and political action to protect wildlife and natural habitats.
Ruud Tombrock, HSI/Europe executive director, congratulates Jaschinski on her award and emphasizes the urgency of political intervention: “Britta Jaschinski’s powerful images reveal the brutal reality behind trophy hunting and the immense suffering and exploitation of animals it involves and send a strong message to European policymakers to take decisive action to stop the import of these grotesque trophies. This is not just about protecting individual animals but preserving ecosystems and safeguarding the future of endangered species worldwide.”
Between 2013 and 2022, the European Union imported over 27,000 trophies from animals threatened by trade and listed under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), making the EU the second-largest importer of hunting trophies after the United States. Among the species targeted are iconic animals such as hippos, rhinos, lions and polar bears.
Globally, there has been a strong movement away from the trophy hunting industry. Many countries, such as Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Singapore, South Sudan and others already prohibit trophy hunting and/or trade in full or to a significant degree, while others, such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, the Netherlands, the United States and others have some level of national trade restrictions for hunting trophies beyond CITES’ minimum requirements. Private industry has also emerged as a global leader in environmental sustainability and responsibility, with 45 transport companies prohibiting the transport of some or all hunting trophies on their carriers, including airlines from the world’s top five and EU’s top three largest airline groups.
