Hermes Plans Crocodile Farm Construction in Australia... Expected to Raise Over 50,000 Crocodiles
Women in Australia protested against leather products in front of an Herm?s store, wearing bikini swimsuits and crocodile masks. Photo by PETA website capture.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Australian women wearing bikini swimsuits and crocodile masks have drawn attention by staging a protest against leather products in front of the luxury brand Herm?s store.
On the 16th (local time), members of the international animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) held a bikini protest in front of the Herm?s store in downtown Melbourne, Australia.
The three protesting women wore green bikinis and crocodile masks while holding signs with messages such as "The cruelty towards crocodiles has been exposed," "Animals die for luxurious leather," and a pun using the name of a terrorist organization leader, "Herm?s: 빈 Crocodile Skin."
PETA, advocating for animal rights, has been conducting environmental campaigns in front of Herm?s stores nationwide in Australia.
PETA spokesperson Emily Rice said, "Many crocodiles, lizards, and snakes are captured, confined, and suffer the pain of having their skins removed to make handbags, belts, and boots."
Rice added, "Environmental experts also worry about virus transmission from animals like crocodiles to humans during the collection process," urging, "Herm?s must immediately take social responsibility and produce non-animal products."
The reason they targeted Herm?s is that it was revealed Herm?s plans to build a crocodile farm for leather products in Darwin, northern Australia.
It is reported that about 50,000 crocodiles will be raised for leather products if this farm is constructed.
According to PETA, the crocodiles on the farm are confined in small concrete pens, deprived of all natural behaviors such as swimming freely. They are also muzzled, electrocuted, or shot to death before their skins are removed.
PETA plans to hold protests at Herm?s stores nationwide, including Sydney and Melbourne.
Fortunately, crocodile leather is losing popularity among both designers and consumers. Famous brands such as Chanel, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vivienne Westwood have announced they will no longer use crocodile, lizard, or snake leather in their products.
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