Last Updated on: 29th April 2024, 01:44 pm
Global Industry Leader Exposed for Animal Abuse, Prompting Calls for Nationwide Fur Ban
An undercover investigation has uncovered disturbing scenes of animal cruelty at one of Poland’s largest mink farms, which is operated by the globally recognized Dutch Van Ansem family. The footage, revealed by Anima International, captures workers brutally mistreating minks by striking them and throwing them against the cage structures.
For five weeks, an undercover investigator working at the farm documented numerous violations of animal welfare. The video evidence shows employees beating minks with clubs, using bare hands and fists, and in some instances, even trampling on them. Minks were also seen being grabbed by their tails, twisted, and hurled into cages or onto transport carts.
The deplorable conditions extend beyond physical abuse; the cages were often filthy and lined with excessive amounts of fur, indicating poor hygiene standards. Many animals suffered from severe injuries, with evident bleeding and distress.
Bogna Wiltowska, Director of Investigations at Anima International, emphasized that such brutal treatments are not isolated incidents but are indicative of broader systemic issues within the fur farming industry. “This time, we have documented violence against animals on a farm owned by the influential Van Ansem family, who claim to adhere to high standards of animal welfare,” Wiltowska said. Despite possessing certifications like WelFur, the footage starkly contradicts the farm’s supposed welfare standards.
The Van Ansem family, with roots in mink farming since the 1960s, established their first Polish farm in 1991 and have since expanded to include operations in Romania, the USA, and Latvia. The size of these farms is significant, with some housing up to several hundred thousand minks.
The exposure of such cruelty has intensified calls for legislative action against fur farming in Poland, currently Europe’s largest fur producer and second only to China globally. Marta Korzeniak, Campaign Manager at Anima International, urged immediate governmental action. “The animal abuse exposed by our activist should be the final push for the Polish government to proceed with the work on the fur farming ban proposal,” Korzeniak stated.
A proposed bill to ban fur farming in Poland, which includes a five-year transitional period and provisions for compensating farmers, is expected to be introduced soon. Advocates like Anima International hope that the findings from this investigation will serve as a compelling catalyst for change, finally ending the fur trade in the nation amid widespread public disapproval and ongoing advocacy efforts.
