MH Vatavaran, the Environment Society of Miranda House in collaboration with AAVYA , presented a documentary “Dominion”, an Aussie Farms production under the Farms Transparency Project showcasing the horrors and barbaric, inhumane behavior meted out to the animals of dairy industry. Here's a brief report on one of the animals the documentary discusses about.
It is not uncommon to spot various fancy accessories in markets and media which are of animal origin such as fur coats, leather bags, belts and shoes etc. They may appear luxurious but they hide a history of unbearable suffering and pain! The film “Dominion” uncovers the dark side of commercial animal farms, “questioning the morality and validity of humankind’s dominion over the animal kingdom”. It shows how animals are severely abused and slaughtered for satisfying mankind’s growing needs for food, clothing and accessories. These gruesome acts can send a chill down the spine, but it is a sad reality of today. The film is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Sia, Sadie Sink and Kat Von D, and co-produced by Earthlings creator Shaun Monson. It is directed by Chris Delforce.
The animal I chose to write about is Minks. They are dark-coloured, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals native to Northern Hemisphere and are related to weasels, otters and ferrets. There are two extant species: the American mink (Neovison vison) and the European mink (Mustela lutreola). The latter falls under the Critically Endangered category of the IUCN Red List. Minks can occupy up to 2500 acres of wetland habitats. They are found along river banks, or around the edges of lakes or marshes.
These minks are one of the most common sources of fur for clothing, accessories and cosmetics like eyelash extensions. These small animals are cramped in small wire cages where chronic boredom and stress leads to frantic pacing, cannibalization and self-mutilation behaviours. Minks used in breeding are kept in these cages for 4 to 5 years giving birth to a litter each year of 3 or 4 kittens who are slaughtered and skinned at 6 months old. Minks raised on farms primarily eat expired cheese, eggs, fish, meat and poultry slaughterhouse byproducts, dog food, and turkey livers, as well as prepared commercial foods. A farm with 3,000 mink may use as much as two tons of food per day. These farms also produce a lot of faecal wastes.
Gas chambers containing poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide or enclosed boxes filled with engine exhaust are common ways of killing the minks before the skinning process. However, these methods are not always lethal, as a result, some minks wake up while being skinned, which gives them intolerable pain and suffering. Neck breaking and Anal electrocution are common alternative methods for slaughtering minks which are no less cruel.
Recently, 17 million minks were culled in November 2020 in response to viral outbreaks at more than 200 mink farms in Denmark. There was reported cases of Coronavirus disease-transmitting from minks to humans and this prompted the Government to take the drastic step. This news is another reason why such animal farms having creatures in bad conditions pose a global health hazard for humans! (NBC News)
So what’s the solution?
1.Say NO to Animal Fur Products As responsible Earthlings, we must Refuse to buy items containing fur or fur trim. We must prefer faux fur and cruelty-free clothing instead.
2. Legal Support We must endorse and/or demand local, state and federal agencies for anti-trapping and anti-cruelty laws that ban such farms and trafficking of animals for fur. On the other hand, we should promote and support stores that don’t sell fur.
3.Get In Touch With People; such as designers, manufacturers, stores, and fashion magazines. We should insist they stop producing, selling and/or promoting fur products by highlighting their cruelty and negative impacts on the environment.
4.Spreading Awareness: Through rallies, articles or documentaries we can spread awareness among the masses for not purchasing fur made from minks or other animals and prefer cheaper synthetic furs or natural plant-based fabrics.
5. Organizing Peaceful Protests: This is another way to attract the attention of Government agencies to take strict actions on farms that grow animals for fur. They should be banned and the animals should be released from their cages to rehabilitation centres or in their natural habitats. Thus, giving them back their birthright to live and breed freely.
6. Alternate Occupations For Fur Farmers: For those people who are completely dependent on such Fur industries should be given incentives or compensation by the Government of NGOs and encouraged to pursue alternate livelihoods.
Let’s Choose Compassion over Cruel Fashion!
Before It Was a Fur Coat, It Was a Someone: PETA
- By Swati Nayak
Well done, Swati 🌻