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Undercover footage taken by Farm Transparency Project reveals shocking abuses at three crocodile factory farms in Australia owned by Hermès. Upon release of the footage, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged provocative protests at Hermès stores in New York City, London and Paris to call on the company to replace crocodile skin with cruelty-free fabrics for their handbags.

Australia accounts for 60% of the global trade of crocodile skins. Crocodiles, who have a natural lifespan of 70 years, are slaughtered by Hermès when they are just 2-3  years old. Birkin bags, which are made from the skins of four crocodiles, sell for tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars at Hermès stores.

Hermès slaughters four crocodiles to produce one Birkin bag

Kindness Project, an Australian animal rights organization that released the Transparency Project footage, has launched a campaign to shut down Australia’s commercial crocodile farms and transition the workers into other jobs. “With so many sustainable and animal friendly alternatives available, there is no need for fashion houses to harm animals in the production of their clothing and accessories. We are asking for an end to Hermès crocodile cruelty, demanding they #dropcroc from their collections, in favor of protecting precious wildlife from cruelty and suffering.”

According to PETA, Hermès is planning to build what would be Australia’s largest crocodile farm, which would hold up to 50,000 individuals. Previous PETA investigations have shown workers shooting reptiles in the head; cutting into their bodies as they struggle to escape; and stabbing still-conscious animals in an effort to dislocate their vertebrae. They also show reptiles moving their legs and tails several minutes after these slaughter attempts. “No purse is worth an animal’s agonizing death,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Hermès to listen to the outcry against cruelty to crocodiles and bag exotic skins.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a protest at Hermès in NYC after Kindness Project released undercover video footage of crocodile abuse at the company’s crocodile factory farms in Australia.

On June 3rd, an estimated 600 animal liberation activists with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE)  traveled to Reichardt Duck Farm, a factory farm and slaughterhouse in Petaluma, California, to rescue ducks in need of medical care and to protest and expose the inhumane conditions.

Before being arrested for chaining themselves to the front gate, two activists spoke to TheirTurn about why they were protesting:

“Reichardt Farms is a cruel, environmentally destructive factory farm masquerading as small family operation with happy ducks,” said Matt Johnson, a spokesperson for DxE. “The public has the right to know the truth – that these aquatic animals spend their entire lives in dark warehouses with no access to water, sunlight and the outdoors.”

As the protest at Reichardt Farms began, several activists attached themselves with bike locks to the conveyer belt in the slaughterhouse. To their astonishment, a slaughterhouse worker activated the conveyer belt, almost killing one of the activists. Another groups of activists retrieved dead ducks from the trash and brought them outside to show to the media. A third group of activists rescued sick ducks before they were slaughtered.

Direct Action Everywhere activist Thomas Chiang is almost killed after slaughterhouse worker turns on the slaughter line to which he is attached.

Two hours after the protest began, approximately 40 police officers in riot gear marched through the throngs of protesters and stationed themselves behind the activists who were chained to the front gate. Several hours later, they began cutting the chains and making arrests.

Throughout the afternoon, the riot police arrested approximately 100 activists and held the majority of them in Sonoma county jail for 48 hours. While several were charged with felonies, the majority received misdemeanor charges.

Stand off between riot police and DxE activists protesting animal abuse at Reichardt Duck Farms

Because the protest received extensive press coverage in the mainstream media, the cruelty of Reichardt Farms and the massive protests that took place will likely dominate google searches of this company for years to come.

Please join the Facebook page The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos to lend your voice and support to the tens of thousands of chickens who are stuffed into crates, swung and slaughtered each year in the name of God.

In one of the most highly anticipated animal events of 2015, thousands of people traveled to High Falls, New York on September 5th to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in its new location. Situated on 150 lush green acres, the new sanctuary will serve not only as a refuge for rescued farm animals but also as a living classroom for visitors and a venue for cruelty-free events, such as summer camps and celebrations.

Jenny Brown and Doug Abel, the founders of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, opened the original location in upstate New York on 26 acres, but they – and the animals they rescue who serve as ambassadors to all victims of animal agriculture – have outgrown the space. The new sanctuary is six times the size and far more expensive to own and operate. Please support Woodstock Farm Sanctuary by making a contribution or becoming a member.

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary Grand Re-Opening

In the past couple of days, millions of people on social media, who don’t normally address animal cruelty, have expressed sorrow and outrage about the murder of Cecil, the beloved lion in Zimbabwe. While we have people’s attention, how can we tap into these powerful emotions to awaken them to the plight of other animals who are equally deserving of a life free from harm? How can we help people connect the dots between Cecil, who endured 40 hours of agony, and the billions of farm animals whose entire lives are consumed by suffering?

Please use this rare moment in time when the world is paying attention to ensure that Cecil did not die in vain and that his murder is wake-up call to the millions of people who have not made the connection between the animals we love – like lions, whales and dogs – and the animals we consume. They are all the same.

One easy way to help people make the connection is to share these images on Facebook and convey your thoughts about why farm animals deserve to live in peace just as much as Cecil.