SYDNEY (May 22, 2026)—Humane World for Animals Australia (formerly called Humane Society International Australia) is strengthening calls for boutique Australian retail brands like Zjoosh to stop selling real fur, after a shocking investigation revealed the horrendous conditions endured by animals on Chinese fur farms.
The investigation for Humane World for Animals at five fur farms in Qinhuangdao and Dandong, northern China, reveals thousands of mink, foxes and raccoon dogs kept in barren wire cages measuring one square metre or less. Many exhibit signs of psychological distress, such as repetitive head bobbing and pacing, resulting from the lack of stimulation and chronic stress.
Investigators also witnessed mink who had been battered to death, their lifeless bodies seen lying on the ground with pools of blood oozing from their head. One mink is seen writhing on the floor where the animal was thrown by a farm worker after being bludgeoned.
Australia continues to import millions of dollars worth of real fur from overseas and has imported almost A$100 million of fur from China during the five-year period from 2000. Australian boutique retailers including Zjoosh are displaying real fur garments made in China in their shop windows and website right now. Zjoosh is selling rabbit fur vests and key chains of China origin.
"It is high time these boutique stores followed the global movement that is removing animal cruelty from fashion instead of providing a market for this dying trade," said Georgie Dolphin, Humane World for Animals Australia program manager for Animal Welfare. "Customers would be horrified to see the heart-breaking conditions animals endure when trapped in cages in fur farms. We encourage the Australian public to keep their wardrobes fur free this winter."
Most leading designers including Max Mara, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Valentino, Prada, Armani, Versace, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, DKNY, Burberry and Chanel are fur-free, and most major Australian retailers including all Australian department stores have adopted fur-free policies. Globally, the fur trade has seen an 86% decline in the number of animals confined and killed on fur farms, shrinking from 140 million in 2014 to 20.5 million in 2024.
China's fur trade has been in steep decline with a 90% reduction in animals kept and killed from 87 million animals in 2014 to 8 million in 2025, according to the China Leather Association.
Humane World for Animals works across the globe to end the fur trade. With a focus on the UK, Europe, North America, China and Australia, our work includes government, industry and corporate campaigns, collaborations with designers and fashion brands, undercover investigations and education campaigns, and has led to a steadily decreasing number of animals affected by this cruel trade.
#
