PETA UK Guide to Compassionate Living Issue 2

Goats Thrown, Cut, and Killed for Mohair A disturbing, first-of-its-kind PETA Asia investigation revealed that in South Africa – the world’s top mohair producer – workers dragged, roughly handled, threw around, mutilated, and barbarically killed gentle angora goats. Buying mohair jumpers, hats, and yarn in the UK supports this cruelty. Exotic Cruelty Ostriches, crocodiles, alligators, snakes, stingrays, and sharks endure horrific cruelty so that their skins can be turned into handbags, belts, and other products. A PETA exposé of the largest ostrich slaughter companies in the world, which provide as much as 85 per cent of the ostrich skin, feathers, and other parts used worldwide, reveals the abuse of birds whose skin is turned into products sold by top European fashion houses. Eyewitnesses saw workers force terrified ostriches into stun boxes – causing many to slip and fall – and then cut their throats. The birds next in line watched helplessly as their flockmates were killed right in front of them. One worker was caught on camera striking ostriches in the face during transport. In the wild, young ostriches will stay with their parents for up to three years, and adults cooperate in communities and share parenting duties. But for the "luxury" skins industry, eggs are taken from ostriches who are used for breeding, and chicks never even meet their parents. These intelligent, curious birds are kept on barren dirt feedlots and killed just after their first birthday. Reptiles used for their skin are also subjected to abject suffering. Snakes are commonly nailed to trees and their bodies cut open from one end to the other as they’re skinned alive, as a result

of the belief that “live flaying” keeps the skin supple. Their mutilated bodies are then discarded, but because of snakes’ slow metabolism, it can take hours for them to die. Lizards are often decapitated,

and some writhe in agony as their skin is torn off. Most alligator skins come from farmed animals who are raised in crowded tanks or pools of fetid, stinking water. The animals are shot or crudely bludgeoned with hammers. Workers sometimes use a mallet and chisel to sever crocodiles’ spinal cords – which paralyses but doesn’t kill them.

Hands Off!