Legality
It is illegal to hunt and kill chinchillas in the wild because they are Critically Endangered. Some states require a liscense to operate a fur farm, but otherwise chinchilla fur farming is legal in the United States. Anal and genital electrocution, the previous method for killing animals on fur farms, was first made illegal in New York State in 2008.
In the Wild
There are currently two species of chinchilla left in the wild, and they are both Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Chinchilla lanigera is known as the Long-Tailed Chinchilla. There are thought to be 42 individual colonies of Long-Tailed Chinchillas left in the wild. Chinchilla brevicaudata, sometimes referred to as Chinchilla chinchilla, is the species that was domesticated for fur farming. This is the Short-Tailed Chinchilla, which is incredibly rare because it is nearly extinct in the wild. There was also a third species that was hunted to extinction for its fur.
It is illegal to hunt and kill chinchillas in the wild because they are Critically Endangered. Some states require a liscense to operate a fur farm, but otherwise chinchilla fur farming is legal in the United States. Anal and genital electrocution, the previous method for killing animals on fur farms, was first made illegal in New York State in 2008.
In the Wild
There are currently two species of chinchilla left in the wild, and they are both Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Chinchilla lanigera is known as the Long-Tailed Chinchilla. There are thought to be 42 individual colonies of Long-Tailed Chinchillas left in the wild. Chinchilla brevicaudata, sometimes referred to as Chinchilla chinchilla, is the species that was domesticated for fur farming. This is the Short-Tailed Chinchilla, which is incredibly rare because it is nearly extinct in the wild. There was also a third species that was hunted to extinction for its fur.
The range of the Chinchilla lanigera is represented in dark green, while Chinchilla brevicauda is in light green (above left). A model wearing a vest made of chinchilla fur (above right).
Chinchilla Fur
Chinchilla fur is highly desirable because of a few key qualities. Of course it is very soft, feels good to touch, and provides very good insulation from the cold. They have the greatest fur density of any animal, producing more than 50 or 60 hairs per follicle. The unique color pattern of each hair - dark grey from the root at least halfway up, then pale grey and finally black at the tip - gives chinchilla fur it's shimmering multi-toned color characteristics. And lastly, products made with chinchilla fur are much lighter than those with other types of fur.
Chinchilla Fur Farms
There are very few chinchilla fur farms in the United States; in fact there are very few period. This contributes to their expensive cost and rarity. The chinchillas are kept in stackable cages with one male and a few females in breeding units. Chinchillas are small rodents, and do not seem to suffer from any space issues. They are kept in good health because it produces better quality pelts. It is important that the fur and skin is not damaged so as not to lessen the value. There are currently few laws and policies to determine the humane treatment of animals specifically in the fur industry, besides the animal cruelty and neglect laws that already apply to everyone.
Genital and Anal Electrocution
This form of killing was determined inhumane when performed on conscious animals by the American Veterinary Medical Association in the year 2000. The reason is that the process takes 10 to 30 seconds, during which the animal is suffering if they are conscious. The AVMA has determined that if the animal is made unconscious prior to electrocution, then this is a humane method.
Statistics
-It takes between 140 and 160 chinchilla pelts to make a fur coat.
-Approximately 250,000 chinchillas are raised and killed on fur farms each year
My Personal View
Obviously poaching an endangered species is wrong. But farming domestic chinchillas for their fur is different. I believe I can passively SUPPORT chinchilla fur farming without betraying my conscience. This is of course dependent on the treatment of the animals at any specific farms. While I have no interest in garments made of chinchilla fur, I understand that there are people who want them to buy, wear, sell, photograph, et cetera. I have no right to tell those people they are wrong in their desires and career choices and clothing taste. As long as they are killed and treated as humanely as possible, I do not have a problem with the concept of fur farming. That being said, if I were to ever purchase a chinchilla coat or any other products, I would want to know that the animals were being treated humanely. Blindly buying fur is not something I would condone or encourage - do your homework before you support an individual fur trading business.
If you consider this to be an issue, click below to see what you can do to help.
Chinchilla Fur
Chinchilla fur is highly desirable because of a few key qualities. Of course it is very soft, feels good to touch, and provides very good insulation from the cold. They have the greatest fur density of any animal, producing more than 50 or 60 hairs per follicle. The unique color pattern of each hair - dark grey from the root at least halfway up, then pale grey and finally black at the tip - gives chinchilla fur it's shimmering multi-toned color characteristics. And lastly, products made with chinchilla fur are much lighter than those with other types of fur.
Chinchilla Fur Farms
There are very few chinchilla fur farms in the United States; in fact there are very few period. This contributes to their expensive cost and rarity. The chinchillas are kept in stackable cages with one male and a few females in breeding units. Chinchillas are small rodents, and do not seem to suffer from any space issues. They are kept in good health because it produces better quality pelts. It is important that the fur and skin is not damaged so as not to lessen the value. There are currently few laws and policies to determine the humane treatment of animals specifically in the fur industry, besides the animal cruelty and neglect laws that already apply to everyone.
Genital and Anal Electrocution
This form of killing was determined inhumane when performed on conscious animals by the American Veterinary Medical Association in the year 2000. The reason is that the process takes 10 to 30 seconds, during which the animal is suffering if they are conscious. The AVMA has determined that if the animal is made unconscious prior to electrocution, then this is a humane method.
Statistics
-It takes between 140 and 160 chinchilla pelts to make a fur coat.
-Approximately 250,000 chinchillas are raised and killed on fur farms each year
My Personal View
Obviously poaching an endangered species is wrong. But farming domestic chinchillas for their fur is different. I believe I can passively SUPPORT chinchilla fur farming without betraying my conscience. This is of course dependent on the treatment of the animals at any specific farms. While I have no interest in garments made of chinchilla fur, I understand that there are people who want them to buy, wear, sell, photograph, et cetera. I have no right to tell those people they are wrong in their desires and career choices and clothing taste. As long as they are killed and treated as humanely as possible, I do not have a problem with the concept of fur farming. That being said, if I were to ever purchase a chinchilla coat or any other products, I would want to know that the animals were being treated humanely. Blindly buying fur is not something I would condone or encourage - do your homework before you support an individual fur trading business.
If you consider this to be an issue, click below to see what you can do to help.
13th of December, 2013