Covid-19 and Fur Farms

THE FUR TRADE POSES SERIOUS HUMAN HEALTH AND ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS

Recent reports from mink fur farms abroad have revealed dangerous links between the industry and the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) to humans. As human, animal and ecosystem health are inextricably linked, it is vital for our health, economy and security that the U.S. and countries across the globe shut down the cruel, risky and unpopular fur farming industry and end the fur trade.

Killed solely for their fur, undomesticated mink, raccoon dogs and foxes are kept in intensive confinement systems for their entire lives. According to a 2016 report released by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 75% of China’s wildlife trade is dominated by fur production—and China is the world’s largest producer of fur products despite decreasing popularity for these products. Mink, raccoon dogs and foxes are common sights at wildlife markets in China. At these markets, animals have tested positive for coronaviruses at the heart of recent pandemics: Foxes and raccoon dogs were found to have been infected with the SARS coronaviruses in 2003 and 2004.

In 2020, mink on hundreds of fur factory farms in Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Greece and the U.S. (Utah, Wisconsin, Michigan and Oregon) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In fact, research now shows that farmed mink spread mutated viruses to humans—the only known animal-to-human transmission outside the original source, and the mutations might reduce the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. To protect public health, the Spanish, Danish and Dutch governments decided to kill nearly 20 million mink at infected farms, which still remain reservoirs for the virus, and France and the Netherlands passed laws to ban fur farming. Unfortunately, there has been little action by the U.S. government.

Indeed, scientific studies have linked several of the animal species used for their fur to a variety of coronaviruses:

• Mink could be a potential intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2, according to scientists. Scientists have also found that mink have proteins that function as receptors for SARS-CoV that are 87% similar to human receptors, meaning that they could be a potential reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses.

• Raccoon dogs in a wildlife market in Shenzhen were found to have been infected with SARS-CoV, and the virus was found to be genetically almost identical to that found in palm civets, leading scientists to suggest that both palm civets and raccoon dogs could be intermediate hosts for SARS-CoV. According to Christian Drosten, Germany’s leading coronavirus expert, the “[SARS] virus was found in civet cats, but also in raccoon dogs—something the media overlooked. Raccoon dogs are a massive industry in China, where they are bred on farms and caught in the wild for their fur. If somebody gave me a few hundred thousand bucks and free access to China to find the source of the virus, I would look in places where raccoon dogs are bred.”

• Foxes in a wildlife market in Guanzhou were found to have been infected with SARS-CoV. Scientists found that fox host cell binding sites were capable of binding to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, and SARS-CoV, which causes SARS.

The fur trade presents clear human health and animal welfare risks. Fur farming and trade is also a failing industry. Designers and retailers—including Gucci, Prada, Nordstrom, Versace, Burberry, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, YOOX Net-a-Porter, Farfetch and Michael Kors—have all committed to stop using fur, opting instead for alternatives that are better for animals and the environment. Fur auction houses have reported reduced sales, lower prices for pelts and financial difficulties. As a result, Kopenhagen Fur, the world’s largest fur auction, and North American Fur Auction will be closed.

Governments have also taken action to ban or restrict the fur trade. Since 2000, when the United Kingdom became the first country to ban fur farming, 18 European countries have either banned or restricted the practice. In addition, São Paulo, Brazil, has banned fur imports and sales, and India has banned the import of fur skins. In 2019, California became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of new fur products. In June 2020, the Dutch Parliament voted to shut down the nation’s mink farms following transmission of COVID-19 from infected minks to farm workers. These are all positive trends, but more needs to happen to protect human health and animal welfare.

Because mink, foxes and raccoon dogs are possible transmitters of SARS-CoV-related coronaviruses and pose a serious threat to human, economic and environmental health, we are calling for a holistic, precautionary response that includes:

• Banning the trade in these animals.

• Urging apparel companies, governments and other entities globally to ban fur farming and end the sale of animal fur.