There has been outrage after an undercover investigation in Peru showed despicable treatment of alpacas in the alpaca wool trade. The investigation was carried out by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and focused on a huge Alpaca farm owned by 'Mallkini'. Mallkini is the world's biggest exporter of yarns and alpaca wool.
Videos now published online by PETA show the alpacas being pulled by their tails and their ears while they squeal in pain. Some of the animals are so scared that they vomit out of terror. Even pregnant alpacas are shown being violently handled. All of this is carried out in order to shear the alpacas coat which is then sold into the fashion industry.
Alpacas are highly-intelligent creatures and are only semi-domesticated, meaning that they maintain much of their wild instincts. As alpacas are prey-animals and not predators, confining them into small areas and manhandling them causes great emotional distress as they believe that they are about to be killed.
Being social-animals, the alpacas are also extremely distressed when they see other members of the alpaca group being shorn of their coat. In the video, groups can be seen huddling together in fear. Many of the alpacas are later killed for food when they outlive their usefulness to the wool industry.
"Alpacas … have an innate instinct to flee from danger and potential harm. Restraining them on their backs and sides would cause fear, panic, and severe psychological distress."
PETA went on to say regarding the footage:
"Mallkini workers pulled alpacas up off the floor by the tail and yanked them around. According to one veterinary expert who reviewed the footage, such 'excessive force applied to the bones, joints, and soft tissues in the area' would cause dislocations, fractures, and severe permanent nerve damage. They also slammed pregnant alpacas onto tables. Workers tied them tightly by the legs into a restraining device reminiscent of a medieval torture rack and pulled hard, nearly wrenching their legs out of their sockets. The alpacas struggled, risking and sometimes no doubt incurring injuries."
As a result of pressure from PETA, many major retailers such as Marks and Spencer, ESPIRIT and Gap, have begun to move away from alpaca wool products. The organisation is now urging everyone to buy synthetic fibres where possible and avoid wearing those products such as scarves, jumpers and hats that are made from alpaca wool.
Mallkini has denied that any alpacas on their farms are harmed or mistreated but Peruvian authorities and animal-rights groups say that they will now undertake further investigations into alpaca farming in Peru.
PETA recently won a campaign against the use of mink in the production of fake-eyelashes. Major fashion brand Sephora stopped the purchase and sale of all fake-eyelashes that had been produced from mink and instead will now only purchase and sell man-made fake-eyelashes following the undercover investigation by PETA.
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