PETA is calling on Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and the
Ministry of Defence (MoD) to stop using bear pelts to make
headpieces for the five guards regiments and to have the hats
fashioned from luxurious faux fur instead.
Bears are cruelly killed for their hides; they are either
shot during hunts or ensnared, possibly for days, in painful
traps. During hunts, as many as one bear in seven is not killed
immediately after being shot, and some escape wounded, possibly
dying later from blood loss or starvation. In some Canadian
provinces, there are no restrictions on the shooting of mothers
who have nursing cubs, leading to the slaughter of entire
families during hunts.
For nearly two centuries, the MoD has waged a war on black
bears while doing nothing to further the search for synthetic
materials. In fact, when it was presented with high-tech
synthetic materials by PETA - sourced from leading faux-fur
manufacturers around the world and made to the MoD's own
specifications - the MoD was quick to make negative comments
about the faux fur, saying that it "lacks life" and "doesn't
bounce back".
Instead of financially supporting the shameful slaughter of
black bears, Great Britain should set a compassionate example by
switching to a humane and progressive alternative and committing
to stopping the killing.
