If you’re planning to shop for fur this winter, check the label on it instead of its colour or texture. If it reads ‘Angora’, the fur is probably extracted from little white Angora rabbits in an extremely brutal manner.
Last week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) uploaded a video showing the cruel procedure, in which the fur is ripped off the rabbits’ bodies even as the animals scream in agony. During the process, their legs are tied and, after it’s done, they are kept in small solitary wire cages to recover.
According to PETA, farmers prefer to rip out the fur this way because they get a higher price by selling its entire length than just sheering it. The animal rights group is urging people across the globe to boycott products made from Angora rabbits’ fur.
“Rabbits are very shy animals, they don’t like to be touched or picked up. In these cases, they go through extreme traumatic stress that leads to irreversible behavioural changes and ill health, which will cause a decrease in fur quality and, ultimately, lead to their death,” said Dr Yuvraj Kaginkar, veterinarian expert in wild and exotic animals.
China produces 90% of the world’s Angora wool that is known for its softness and thermal retention. There is a market for Angora wool in India, but most of the products are imported from China.
There are two ways of removing the fur from an Angora rabbit — plucking, which gives superior quality fur, and shearing, which results in a slightly inferior quality. Rabbits moult every three or four months, that is when they are plucked or sheared. This continues for a couple of years until the rabbit loses value, after which it is reportedly skinned and killed.
“We appeal to shoppers this winter to read the label on sweaters or scarfs. If it says ‘angora’, remember the gentle rabbits whose fur was cruelly ripped off,” said Poorva Joshipura, CEO of PETA India.
If you have the heart to see the evidence for yourself, go to this link to view the PETA video: http://www.petapreview.com/4preview/angora_investigation_media_peta.asp
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