Photo by Otwarte Klatki
Upsetting footage captured at a Polish mink farm shows workers abusing animals by hitting them with bare hands, fists, and clubs, and throwing mink against wooden and metal components of cages. Otwarte Klatki (Open Cages Association), an NGO based in Poznań, Poland, worked with an undercover investigator who was employed at the farm for five weeks.
“The brutal treatment of animals on fur farms is not an isolated incident, but rather a systemic issue,” says Bogna Wiltowska, Director of Investigations at Otwarte Klatki in a press release. “This is not the first time when such cruel practices come to light. This time, we have documented violence against animals on a farm belonging to the influential Van Ansem family, which purportedly upholds high standards of animal welfare, as evidenced by certifications like WelFur. However, the reality depicted in numerous recordings from the farm speaks otherwise.”
Poland is currently the biggest fur producer in Europe and the second-largest in the world – after China. Despite overwhelming support from the majority of Poles for a fur ban, previous efforts to abolish fur farming in the country have been thwarted by the fur lobby. However, a new proposal for a fur ban bill is set to be introduced in the coming weeks, which includes a transitional period of five years and provisions for compensation to farmers. Otwarte Klatki anticipates that the findings of this investigation will serve as a decisive catalyst for the implementation of a fur farming ban in Poland.
Animal welfare concerns have already led 20 European countries to ban the cruel practice of fur farming.
The Fur-Bearers support the efforts of our colleagues at the Fur Free Alliance and its member groups such as Otwarte Kaltki in their work to end fur farming across Europe. Our partners suggest those wanting to take action share the posts from Otwarte Kaltki and tag Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk via email (Donald.tusk@sejm.pl), Twitter/X (@donaldtusk), Instagram (@donaldtusk) or Facebook (@donaldtusk).
