After ten years of lobbying, Serbia’s long-awaited ban on fur farms finally went into effect on January 1st, 2019, and will save the lives of an estimated 12,000 chinchillas every year.
When it passed, the 2009 Animal Welfare Act included a decade-long transitional period, allowing fur farmers time to phase out their business and find a more sustainable income. But the wait is now finally over for these suffering animals.
Anti-fur organizations such as the Fur Free Alliance have been hard at work during that period, as pro-fur advocates fought to get the ban reversed.
In 2018, with the deadline drawing closer, fur trade groups stepped up their efforts, pressuring the Serbian government to extend the transition period or abandon the ban completely.
Thanks to the relentless work of the Fur Free Alliance and Serbian organization Freedom for Animals, the law stayed in place.
“For 15 years now, Freedom for Animals has advocated for a fur-free Serbia by advancing and supporting legislation to abolish this brutal exploitation of animals,” said Snezana Milovanovic, director of Freedom for Animals. “With the enforcement of the 2009 Animal Welfare Act, that makes it illegal to keep, reproduce, import, export and kill animals only for the production of fur, a great victory is finally achieved. Not only is this ban important for animals kept for fur production in Serbia, but also for the whole South East European region, and it signifies a major step forward for animal rights worldwide.”
The only species farmed for their fur in Serbia, chinchillas are endangered and protected in their natural habitats within South America. These adorable rodents are highly social, often living in colonies of up to 100 individuals. They are monogamous, mobile, shy and nocturnal.
These natural behaviors lie in stark contrast to their tortured lives in fur farms. Crammed into tiny cages barely big enough to move around in, they are forced to be active in the daytime.
Research has shown that chinchillas are prone to serious health and behavioral issues when kept in these horrific conditions. From stereotypic behaviors to self-mutilation, the intense stress of their enforced imprisonment is clear.
Serbia’s ban now puts them on a par with around a dozen other countries that have put an end to fur farming, including Norway, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
This is good news!
Brawo Serbia teraz ten sam zakaz trzeba wprowadzić na cały świat dość przemocy dość okrucieństwa wobec zwierząt które niczym nam nie zawiniły koniec noszenia futer one mają swoich właścicieli i naprawdę tym zwierzętom lepiej pasuje futro niż nam ludziom wydaje mi się gdyby Bóg miał w planach dać nam futro to bylibyśmy owłosieni cali a jednak Bóg nie podarował nam futra aby nam nie było zimno mamy ubrania To jest nasza ochrona przed zimnem natomiast zwierzęta otrzymały od Boga futra to jest ich ubranie chroni ich ciało przed mrozem i dlatego ja się pytam jakim prawem ludzie odbieramy im ubranie Przecież mamy swoje czas powiedzieć stop Hanię wynajmu w mordowaniu zwierząt aby pozyskać tylko ich futerka to nie jest ich wina że mają takie mięciutkie i cieplutkie futerka ale to jest ich własność nie nasza ludzi koniec z futrami jesteśmy ludźmi i naszym obowiązkiem jest szanować matkę Nature szanować wszystkie zwierzęta jakie żyją na planecie mamy dbać o nie a nie mordować DOSC NOSZENIA FUTER ZE ZWIERZĄT
COMMENT
You know, furfarmers manipulate us here in Finland saying, that if they don’t kill animals, then China will and it is not so civilized at all.
But I think, that we must ban & boycott fur in the whole world.
Please help us in Finland to stop furfarming !
Please, please.
Is there a Petition for Finland? — If so, give link —
10 years to come to an end. So many more lives are going to be butcher at the hands of greedy, soulless imbeciles.
Now doesn’t that put SOME countries to shame? Congrats to the brave souls in Serbia who fought so hard to make this happen.
Thank you ever so much. Sadly here in Finland the gowernement pays to furfarmowners to continuer.
Now we have election, but nobody speaks for Animals.
Please boycott Finland till that cruelty ends.
Thank you.
Is there a Petition for Finland? — If so, give link —
Finally, and Thank You !
These sick bastards now need to be watched. They will still do it in hiding or they will find a loophole. The law says the animals can’t be killed for the purpose of fur but they will say it’s for food and then use the fur!
Lock him up forever.
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only reason these fur farms exist is because of the ignorance of certain humans who think it is ok to wear ‘real’ fur and have no concern for the welfare of animals. There is no need for anyone to wear fur in the 21st century and I can’t understand why people still choose to do so.
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The only reason these fur farms exist is because certain ignorant humans still want to wear ‘real’ fur and have no conscience as far as suffering to animals is concerned. There is no excuse for anyone to wear fur in the 21st century.
So good to see protection for animals securely in place at last.
Fabulous! I hope that Serbia enforces the law for the sake of the chinchillas. There are always dreadful humans willing to work the black market and make conditions even worse for poor, innocent animals.
About time!!
EXCELLENT — our animals NEED protections — humans do NOT NEED “animal fur” — we have many materials to choose from.
La Serbia non fa parte dal’UE ,ma è 1000anni più avanti!Bravi!!!
Bravo Serbia. Shame it took so long. Now for tge other countries who still alliw fur farming
This is great news, too bad this isn’t already the norm all over the world, people have a long way to go still. Serbia has shown its greatness here.
BTW, site host; please take care of the problem with your petition titled “JUSTICE FOR DOGS SHOT AND DUMPED IN FIELD LIKE TRASH.” There is no way to sign or comment there.
So it wasn’t just me who had problems trying sign thd Trash petition?
YAY SERBIA NOW TO GET THE REST OF THE WORLD TO DO THE SAME!!!!
YES!~!!!!
Will this ban trigger illegal farm practices? It all depends how well this ban is enforced. If Serbian law enforcement turns a blind eye, it will be all for nothing. Whaling is illegal, but Japan still hunts- The IWC does nothing. Cat and dog meat farms is illegal in some parts of Asia, but people are still stealing dogs from people’s homes for the meat trade. People don’t respect laws- they love money more.
Great comment. Absolutely true.
It will not save the lives of 12,000 chinchillas, because those chinchillas, will not be bred for and raised. Again, you missed the big picture.
WHAT??? It is saving them from torture. You want to quibble with words?
They can be rehomed in sanctuary , zoos, or as pets!!!Animals rescuers can take in charge this mission,. I think that many people would be glad to adopt those so cute chinchillas!( I would)
We have had 2 male rescue chinchillas for almost 15 years. They’re adorable and live a long time in descent conditions.
Wonderful