PETA to campaign on animal abuse to IILF visitors

Chennai, Jan 30 (UNI) Expressing dismay at the cruel treatment meted out to animals in leather industry despite promises by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), PETA India today said it would inform the visitors to the India International Leather Fair (IILF), beginning tomorrow, about the animal abuse prevalent in the country.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the 22nd annual IILF here, PETA India Coordinator of Campaigns and Legal Affairs N G Jayasimha said the CLE had failed to deliver its promises on animal welfare reform projects and take steps to alleviate the sufferings of animals during transport and slaughter.

He said about 40 major retailers, around the world, had decided to boycott Indian leather to protest against unlawful cruelty on animals and the loss was estimated to be USD 68 million.

PETA US had recently received fresh assurances from major US retailers such as Kenneth Cole, Liz Claiborne and Eddie Bauer that they would not use Indian leather.

British shoe retailer Clarks was the latest company to assure PETA that it would not use Indian leather, he added.

In 2002, due to mounting worldwide pressure and PETA's campaign against cruelty to animals in the leather industry, the CLE was committed to take up an animal welfare reform programme, starting first in Coimbatore.

Since then the CLE had assured international retailers, who were concerned about the poor treatment of animals in India, that they had taken adequate animal welfare reform programmes, he said.

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