Adidas kicks back at animal rights protestors
Protesters on behalf of animal rights, frequently proponents of a vegan lifestyle, have been targeting those who use kangaroo leather.
Despite the fact that the Australian government carefully manages the kangaroo population - and is hardly likely to damage the future of one of the country’s most widely recognised symbols - the group called Viva! (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals!) has nevertheless seen fit to allege that the kangaroo is being hunted to extinction. The group’s most recent target is the German sports brand, adidas, which it accuses of ‘contributing to the decline of some endangered species’ through its use of high quality leather in its football boots.
Kangaroos are known to cause environmental devastation and it is widely acknowledged that numbers need to be kept in check. As part of the culling process, the Australian government’s wildlife department every year sets a figure for the seven species that can be hunted, so that environment and the animal’s habitat can be conserved.
A strictly controlled programme of licensing shooters is maintained and it is interesting to note that - notwithstanding the claims of groups such as Viva - the quota has never been reached in any single year. This year the cull is expected to reach only half the number set the authorities.
Adidas-salomon has stated that it is wholly against animal cruelty. It also insists "that our suppliers fully comply with the Australian government’s strict rules on kangaroo culling." It only buys its kangaroo leather from licensed operators. The company emphasised that: "If our suppliers fail to comply with the law, they will be refused an export permit for the leather by the Australian government."
