Photos: PETA ‘Bear’ to Boris Johnson: ‘Save My Skin!’

Photos: PETA ‘Bear’ to Boris Johnson: ‘Save My Skin!’

London – Earlier this week, PETA unveiled the world’s first faux bear fur – created by luxury faux furrier ECOPEL – which looks and functions exactly like the bearskin used to make the Queen’s Guard’s caps. Today, PETA’s “bear” descended on 10 Downing Street, carrying a sign reading, “Boris, Save My Skin!” calling on the prime minister to quick-march the new fabric into use for the ceremonial headgear.

As Mayor of London, Boris Johnson declared his support for the initiative, saying faux-fur caps should be used if they would “help save a few bears”. Now, as prime minister, he has the power to make that happen.

The images are also available here.

“There is no excuse for the Ministry of Defence to continue funding the slaughter of black bears – and the prime minister must put a stop to it,” says PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner. “The humane, high-performing faux fur created by ECOPEL gives a nod to tradition while preventing sensitive bears from being viciously slaughtered for their fur.”

PETA notes that it takes the skin of at least one bear to make a single cap. Some bears are shot several times before they die, and some escape only to bleed to death. When mother bears are killed, their cubs are left to starve.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that in the past seven years alone, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) spent more than £1 million of taxpayers’ money on 891 bearskin caps – which are ornamental and serve no military purpose. ECOPEL has offered to provide the MoD with faux bear fur free of charge until 2030, meaning the switch would also save money.

PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk or follow the group on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327; [email protected]

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