Denmark To Ban Mink Farming Until End of 2021

​www.independent.co.uk/news/denmark-wants-to-ban-mink-farming-until-end-2021-government-ap-denmark-evidence-government-b1720535.html

The Danish Government is in the process of drafting new law proposals that would effectively ban mink fur farming until the end of 2021. The proposal comes off the heels of the discovery of a mutated form of coronavirus discovered in minks that has since prompted the Danish government to cull anywhere between 15 and 17 million minks throughout the country. The mink fur industry in Denmark is the largest in the world and supplies 40% of the world's mink pelts.

The cull of all of Denmark's minks has been a devastating blow to an industry that employs thousands and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. As the country continues to cull its minks, we have to ask ourselves if this is something that we SHOULD bounce back from or whether we should take this is a very important lesson learned and abandon fur. You see, if it's not the coronavirus, it will be something else, and minks will continue to be culled to protect humans. This cycle will perpetuate loss of income, loss of work, and loss of life for minks who suffer tremendously in the fur industry. 

The proposed ban on mink fur farming until the end of 2021 gives Denmark an opportunity to investigate other opportunities for revenue that are safer and less exploitative. The country could offer subsidies and grants to fur farmers to get into other farming opportunities which I believe they would be interested in, especially after the loss of every mink in the country. These farmers have now lost everything and frankly, this might not be the last time something like this happens. Is it more lucrative to start from scratch at the end of 2021 and begin rapidly breeding millions of mink for fur, or should Denmark be looking at other initiatives during this period of mink fur bans? 

This massive cull of the nation's minks is an opportunity for Denmark to invest in other farming opportunities and commit to ending fur farming once and for all. As I said, this could happen again at any time, resulting in more culling and more loss of income and work for fur farmers. How many times can these farmers truly bounce back from losing everything? This isn't even just about the farmers, it's about the millions of innocent mink who will be slaughtered simply for existing during a pandemic. It's about the suffering of these animals on fur farms and the horrific cruelty and exploitation they endure during their short lives prior to being skinned. Fur farming is on the way out as more big name labels turn their backs on fur. It's clear the industry is dying out, and this mink cull is Denmark's chance to get out of an industry that is fizzling out.

In my opinion, if we're going to ban fur farming until the end of next year, why not just ban it altogether and focus immediately on how to help farmers with the financial burden of losing all of their mink, and help them to convert their facilities to other farming options. The cost of breeding and restocking nearly 17 million mink has to be astronomical, and the opportunity for the next pandemic to infect minks again is always present. 15 + million minks are going to die because there are still some of us on this planet that support the breeding, captivity, and skinning of innocent animals. 15 million innocent lives lost at the hands of an industry that exploits cruelty to animals to the highest degree.

It's hard to say what the year will bring, but I'd love to see Denmark direct their resources to other farming initiatives rather than head right down the same path that lead them here. I'd also love not to see 15 million innocent anythings have to die. Just ban fur already.

What do you guys think? Is there any hope that Denmark would decide to ban fur instead of restarting the industry at year's end?

HAPPY VEG