Do you know how many animals are used to make fur coats?

The Latin American Post Staff November 14, 2018

441 2 minutes read

The fur industry uses the skin of different animals to make items such as coats, gloves, hats, among others

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Despite complaints of animal abuse and the use of chemicals that affect the environment, the fur industry has not disappeared. Nowadays, although with a lower boom, garments that are made with the skin of different animals are still manufactured.

Leer en español: ¿Sabes cuántos animales se usan para hacer abrigos de piel?

According to FAADA, the Foundation for Counseling and Action in Defense of Animals, the following amount of animals is used for the production of fur coats:

45 million animals are slaughtered annually
60-100 chinchillas
60 – 80 minks
27 – 30 raccoons
15 – 20 foxes
12 – 15 lynxes
10 – 15 wolves or coyotes

This same organization, dedicated since 2004 to "promote respect for animals in the social, legal and educational fields", highlights that this industry, in addition to sacrificing animals with questionable methods such as electrocution or poisoning, also subjects them to other conditions like living in captivity and reproducing them endogamously – which produces alterations and deformations.

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Other organizations that provide care for animals, such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), claim that this industry also produces global warming. The chemicals used to treat fur, such as formaldehyde or ammonia, affect the quality of water and air, which in turn harms human health.

Additionally, according to PETA in statements to Forbes, the breeding of animals such as sheep are harmful to the soil because they erode it and increase salinity.

While there are objections against this industry, the fur commerce is valued at 40 billion dollars. In fact, Welfur, an organization that covers the entire fur value chain in Europe and works for the "sustainable economic, social and environmental development of the skin sector in Europe", is establishing certification and licensing processes for this type of farms.

Welfur stresses that different myths have been created around fake leather clothing. For example, people believe animals are mistreated; this organization affirms that this type of treatment would be reflected in the furs.

Another example of false myths is that synthetic products are eco-friendly unlike those used in the fur industry; Welfur says that petroleum-based materials that are harmful to the environment are used in the synthetic industry.

Famous against the use of skins

There are many celebrities who have joined for the prohibition and commercialization of fur. Some of them are:

Penelope Cruz: in 2012, she allied with PETA, to say no to the use and commerce of fur. With a 70-ft billboard at Madison Square Garden, the actress told the world "give fur the cold shoulder".
Khloe Kardashian: in 2014, the star of the reality show was against the use of furs. Kardashian used a faux fur coat that on the back had written in red ink "f*ck you fur." In 2008, Kardashian had posed nude for a PETA campaign in which she claimed to prefer going nude to wearing fur.
Marcela Kloosterboer: in 2008, the Argentine actress joined with AnimaNaturalis, dedicated to the defense of animals, to make a strong campaign on the use of fur. Kloosterboer appeared holding a skinned fox and claiming "here's the rest of your fur coat."

LatinAmerican Post | Marcela Peñaloza
Translated from “¿Sabes cuántos animales se usan para hacer abrigos de piel?”

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