Danny Cipriani Bares His Skin to Help Animals Keep Theirs

Posted by on January 1, 2014 | Permalink

Danny Cipriani is the first-ever rugby player to star in PETA’s iconic “Ink, Not Mink” ad series! The Sale Sharks’ fly-half shows off his tattoos, his chiselled physique and his respect for animals in order to raise awareness of the cruel fur industry.

Danny’s new ad, which was shot by top photographer Trevor Leighton, highlights the growing trend among celebrities and athletes to speak out against stolen skins. As Danny says, “The rugby pitch is known for being a tough environment, but it’s nothing compared to what some animals go through when being hunted for their fur. I’m proud to be helping PETA raise awareness of how to help these animals – all you have to do is not wear them!”

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In the wild, fur-bearing animals caught in cruel steel-jaw traps can languish for days, slowly dying from hunger, thirst, disease, blood loss and predation. Some, especially mothers with babies, chew through their limbs in a desperate attempt to escape. Animals on fur farms spend their entire lives confined to cramped, filthy cages before they are beaten, gassed or anally electrocuted.

Mink. Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

Image: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

It’s hardly surprising that so many people are rejecting this cruelty outright. Danny follows in the footsteps of fellow athlete, cricketer Jade Dernbach, who also recently stripped off for a PETA ad, while top designers such as Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Vivienne Westwood have all publicly sworn off fur.

Please take a few minutes to educate yourself about the barbaric fur industry – and pledge to stay away from it – by viewing the eye-opening video footage of Chinese fur farms.