Photography: Humane Society International
We could hear the restless clatter of their paws on the wire floor before we could see them. The frenetic energy of ten thousand mink trapped in tiny cages was almost palpable. As the sheds loomed into focus, I was struck simultaneously by the beauty and horror of the hundreds of pairs of bright inquisitive eyes reflecting our torch lights.
I have campaigned against the fur trade for years. I’ve read hundreds of scientific and veterinary opinions, reviewed countless hours of investigation footage, held and examined so many fur products (including many masquerading as fake fur). So, I thought I was ready for my first visit to a fur farm, but the reality was so much more heart-breaking than I had allowed myself to imagine.