Save the Sheep!

PETA Asks Australian Senators to End Fruitless Funding of Cruel Clip-Mulesing Trials

For Immediate Release:
5 March 2008

Contact:
Matt Prescott +1 757-622-7382

Norfolk, Va. - This morning, PETA sent an urgent letter to Australian Senators Bill Heffernan and Fiona Nash urging them to pull federal funding for the clip-mulesing trials on lambs that are being conducted by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

With clip mulesing, clips are attached to animals' folded skin and flesh, causing it to rot and fall off. AWI is wasting time and government money on this method of flystrike control, which is just as cruel as standard mulesing mutilations. In its letter to Heffernan and Nash, PETA makes it clear that this new mulesing method will not convince retailers to purchase Australian wool (as evidenced by retail giant H&M's recent decision to drop Australian wool), so any money spent on clip evaluations will amount to nothing more than wasted resources.

PETA's request follows reports that – after learning about the growing boycott of Australian wool by leading retailers worldwide in reaction to mulesing's inherent cruelty - Heffernan alleged that AWI was hiding information about the excessive failure rate of clip mulesing. Nash is demanding accountability on the trials from AWI, which has received $4 million AUD in government funding over the past three years.

In 2004, PETA called for a worldwide boycott of Australian wool until the industry ends mulesing mutilations and live-sheep exports. The boycott has garnered support from leading retailers in the US, Europe and India. Heffernan and Nash spoke out against AWI's failure to develop or implement humane alternatives to mulesing after European fashion chain H&M joined the boycott.

Writes PETA President Ingrid E Newkirk, "[U]ntil [AWI officials] switch to bare-breech breeding and implement existing good animal husbandry practices to prevent and treat flystrike, the Australian wool industry is doomed."

For more information, please visit SaveTheSheep.com.

PETA's letters to Senators Heffernan and Nash are available upon request.