Polish activists go undercover on a mink farm!
Disturbing footage captured at a mink farm in Poland has revealed egregious animal cruelty, shedding light on the brutal treatment of animals within the fur industry. The Van Ansem family owns the farm in question, renowned for their extensive mink farming operations across multiple countries.
The investigation, conducted by the Polish organization Otwarte Klatki, involved an undercover operative who spent five weeks documenting the appalling conditions and abuse suffered by minks on the farm. The footage depicts workers engaging in shocking acts of violence, including striking the animals with bare hands, fists, and clubs, as well as throwing them against the metal and wooden components of their cages. Minks were also observed being grabbed by their tails and forcibly hurled into cages or transport carts, resulting in severe injuries and bleeding. The deplorable state of the cages, covered in filth and fur, further underscores the appalling conditions in which these animals are kept.
Source: Canva
The Van Ansem family, with a longstanding history in mink farming dating back to the 1960s, established their first farm in Poland in 1991. Over the years, they have expanded their operations to include farms in Romania, the USA, and Latvia, with each facility housing tens of thousands to several hundred thousand minks on average.
Poland currently ranks as the largest fur producer in Europe and the second-largest globally, trailing only behind China. Despite widespread public support for a fur ban in Poland, efforts to abolish fur farming have been met with resistance from the fur lobby. However, a new proposal for a fur ban bill, slated to be introduced in the coming weeks, offers hope for change. The proposed legislation includes a five-year transitional period and provisions for compensating affected farmers. Otwarte Klatki anticipates that the shocking revelations from their investigation will serve as a compelling catalyst for enacting a fur farming ban in Poland.
The cruelty exposed at this mink farm underscores the urgent need for reform within the fur industry. With 20 European countries already banning fur farming due to animal welfare concerns, it is time for Poland to align with modern ethical standards and end this inhumane practice.
