Could the Fur Industry Cause the Next Global Pandemic?
A new study has revealed fur farms in China are holding thousands of animals in close proximity despite the risk of zoonotic disease spread.
Fur farm in Pulandian, located in the south of Liaoning province, China, 2023. Credit: HSI
There is a significant risk of diseases, with the potential to transmit from animals to humans, emerging at fur farms in China, according to a study.
The animal advocacy group Humane Society International (HSI) investigated five fur farms in China's northern Hebei and Liaoning provinces at the end of 2023. The intensive farming facilities each held between 2,000 and 4,000 animals, including foxes, raccoon dogs, and mink, and were close to poultry farms, despite the potential for zoonotic disease spread.
Hundreds of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and avian influenza have been reported on fur farms worldwide since 2020, leading to the culling of hundreds of thousands of animals. Despite these concerning outbreaks, farmers at these Chinese fur farms confirmed to investigators that they do not regularly sterilize their farms due to financial reasons.
Alastair MacMillan, a visiting professor at Surrey University's Veterinary School, who viewed the footage, said that the high concentration of animals in intensive farming facilities accelerates the transmission of viruses through droplets, which can spread from one animal to another and potentially to humans.
“As a veterinary microbiologist, I am deeply concerned by the apparent lack of biosecurity and potential for transmission of avian influenza due to chickens and ducks moving freely between cages of raccoon dogs,” said MacMillan. “That demonstrates a ready route of transmission via direct contact or fecal contamination.
“Cases of avian influenza have already been documented on European fur farms and such close proximity between species significantly heightens the risk of avian-to-mammal transmission,” he added.
MacMillan emphasized that the footage is deeply concerning, noting that animals raised for their fur are known to be vulnerable to respiratory viruses, which can pose a risk of infection to humans.
Food preparation areas at several of the fur farms contained substantial amounts of frozen fish, chicken meat, liver, eggs, and milk powder, which were ground into a paste for use as animal feed, according to HSI. This practice persists despite EU experts flagging the feeding of raw chicken meat to animals on fur farms as a biosecurity concern.
Fur farm in Pulandian, located in the south of Liaoning province, China, 2023. Credit: HSI
Animal Suffering
The footage also revealed that the animals exhibited repetitive, stereotypical behaviors associated with mental decline and the conditions of intensive confinement.
“The fur farms we visited were typical of fur farms across China where animals are sadly held in cramped, barren cages, many pacing up and down repetitively due to psychological distress,” said investigator Xiao Chen.
“I cannot imagine their frustration and boredom, all to produce something as trivial as fur fashion”
“These are naturally inquisitive, energetic animals but they are reduced to this sad existence in a wire cage with nowhere to go and nothing to do. I cannot imagine their frustration and boredom, all to produce something as trivial as fur fashion,” added Chen.
According to investigators, the most common method of killing on fur farms involves electric shock administered through the mouth and rectum. However, some operators resort to methods such as smashing mink heads against metal poles or beating them with clubs.
Animal carcasses from fur farms are also sold to markets in the region, selling for approximately 2-3 yuan/kg. One local restaurant visited by the investigators also offered boiled, fried and marinated raccoon dog meat for human consumption, cooking around 42 raccoon dogs per day, which also raises concerns about the potential for zoonotic disease transmission, warned MacMillan.
Fur farm in Pulandian, located in the south of Liaoning province, China, 2023. Credit: HSI
A Dying Industry
China’s Fur and Leather Industry Association has reported that the country’s fur production dipped by 50 percent between 2022 to 2023, and a decline of almost 90 percent in the past decade. This mirrors the downward trend of fur production worldwide, with most high-end designer labels also publicly banning it from their collections.
The investigators also observed that many rural small and medium-sized fur farms previously active in the area had closed due to poor sales.
Dr Peter Li, HSI’s China policy expert, said: “Because of the rejection of fur by so many designers and consumers, fur farming in China has seen a dramatic reduction in recent years. But the end of this cruel, environmentally damaging and dangerous industry cannot come soon enough.”
Fur farm in Pulandian, located in the south of Liaoning province, China, 2023. Credit: HSI
Take Action Now
An estimated 95 percent of all fur comes from intensive farms, which causes animal suffering and amplifies the possibility of viruses jumping and mutating. In light of these risks, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduced H.R.3783, the Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act (Mink VIRUS Act), which will end the practice of fur farming in the United States and will provide support for mink fur farmers to transition out of the industry to ensure they do not turn to illegal mink fur farming for money.
Species Unite is putting our support behind this important piece of legislation which has the potential to save the lives of millions of minks and help curb the spread of pandemics. Please sign our petition now to urge congress to pass the Mink VIRUS Act.
To learn more about the future of fur, listen to this Species Unite podcast episode with Kym Canter, the founder and creative director at House of Fluff, a New York City-based, animal free, material innovation studio and outerwear brand.
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