Abuse Angora Rabbits To Obtain Their Wool
Animal abuse is a problem that is increasing. Many times this type of phenomenon is associated with different industries, such as food or textiles. Regarding the latter, it is in the public domain that the animals used in this sector are mistreated to death. An example of this is the aberration that occurs in some Chinese farms that are dedicated to the production of angora fiber.
Fortunately, thanks to pressure from different groups in defense of animal rights, some clothing brands have banned the use of skins that come from these types of workshops. But this has not been enough. And even today, in many Chinese establishments, abuse continues against Angora rabbits.
China’s cruel angora industry
Angora fiber production is extremely cruel. In many factories, the skin of rabbits is extracted using very violent methods. Without having any kind of qualms, the animals are plucked by tearing off their skin. But this is not all. In addition, they are kept in small cages, they do not have any type of cleaning and hopefully they are fed.
It should be noted that China has the highest number of these abuses. The Asian country is the largest producer of angora fibers, which are highly valued, because they have a very soft and fluffy texture. Also, these fibers are warmer than wool and much softer than cashmere.
To denounce how some Chinese farms work, associations that defend animal rights traveled to that country and recorded the shameless actions of this industry with videos.
In the audiovisual material published by these organizations, it can be seen how the rabbits are terrified, screaming in fear. In heartbreaking images, animals are stretched out on a wooden board, held by the neck, and hair pulled out.
No to animal abuse
But why does the Chinese industry use such abusive methods? Well, for money and convenience. Angora rabbit hair has a commercial value of between £ 22 to £ 28 per kilogram, but longer hair that comes from plucking, unlike shearing, can sell for more than double.
As for speed, you only have to look at the images to discover how quickly Chinese workers, using devious methods, remove hair from rabbits. According to Angora breeders , it can take up to two weeks to remove the skin of a rabbit without causing damage, not 3 or 4 minutes, as can be seen in the videos recorded in Chinese factories.
The devious process used in Chinese farms is repeated every three months for the two or three years of the animal’s life.
Angora rabbits, when well cared for, can live for five or even ten years. However, farm rabbits have a much shorter lifespan, not exceeding two years. They are forced to spend their entire lives miserable in little cages. They never have the possibility to dig, jump or run and their hygienic and health conditions are non-existent.
According to animal rights advocates, the few rabbits that survive these brutal conditions end up being slaughtered and their meat sold in local markets.
In China, there are more than 50 million rabbits on angora farms, which produce approximately 4,000 tonnes of fur per year.
Other countries that are also angora producers are Argentina, Chile, the Czech Republic and Hungary. However, it is they production does not exceed 10%.
Plucking Angora rabbits does not occur with this type of method in other countries. But in China abusive practices are common and are carried out even more, since there is no strong legislation that prohibits animal abuse.
To avoid this type of abuse, do not forget: the best thing you can do is not buy clothing, whose fabric comes from these workshops. With that small action, perhaps you prevent those terrifying methods from continuing.
