Denmark has dropped plans to cull between 15-17 million mink over a mutated form of the coronavirus. The government has stopped its attempt to pass emergency legislation allowing the cull to take place.
The country’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that the country’s mink would be culled as the mutation had spread to humans and concerns were raised over the mutation compromising future vaccines.
Denmark is the world’s largest producer of mink fur.
The announcement, however, was met with contention.
Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, the leader of Denmark’s largest opposition party, Venstre said: ‘Massive doubts over whether this cull is properly scientifically based [have] come to light now,’ according to The Guardian.
‘At the same time the government is taking away the livelihood of a large number of people without actually having the legal rights to do so.’
Animal rights group Humane Society International have both commended the Danish government for protecting its citizens and questions why fur farms still exist.
The welfare group also said that fur farmers need to be assisted in transitioning into different realm of generating an income.
‘HSI urges the Danish government to assist fur farmers to transition to other activities. There has never been a more compelling time for Denmark to shut down this sick industry for good,’ said Dr Joanna Swabe, Humane Society International/Europe’s senior director of public affairs.
Picture: Morgan Trimble/ Getaway Gallery
