Investigations

With the aid of local activists, in November 2015, Animal Equality’s investigators infiltrated the Chinese dog and cat fur industry across several regions of the country. Our investigators uncovered the cruelty behind the killing of dogs and cats for their fur to make bags, toys, and clothing.

Animal Equality captured video footage inside some major Italian rabbit breeding facilities. Rabbits were living in filth and were artificially inseminated over and over again. The investigation also allowed the public to see the cruel ways in which the rabbits were transported and slaughtered.

We released a photo gallery containing never-before-seen images of bulls and calves (“encierros” and “novilladas”) at cruel bullfighting festivals, which were partially funded by European Union taxpayers. The EU annually provideed a subsidy of over £110 million via the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to farmers who bred bulls for bullfights and other blood fiestas. British taxpayers helped fund bullfighting in Spain with over £13.5 million a year.

For several months, Animal Equality has worked closely and intensively with the Italian program 'AnnoUno' to launch a never-seen-before investigation into the Italian pig industry. The program broadcasted on Thursday, May 21 on channel 'La7' and was watched live by 1.020.936 people. Following this presentation, Animal Equality launched an exclusive report with Italian newspaper 'Corriere della Sera' showing new distressing footage of the reality experienced by millions of pigs in factory farms and slaughterhouses in Italy.

Consumers often pay top dollar for animal products labeled “organic,” thinking that the animals are treated better than those in other farms. However, Animal Equality busted that myth when we documented the cramped and filthy living conditions of hens on two organic egg farms that supply eggs to a top egg company in Europe.

Coinciding with World Day for Animals in Laboratories, Animal Equality released new footage of cruel experiments on mice and rats at the Medical School of the Complutense University of Madrid,and on pigs at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Spain.

Animal Equality investigators carried out an undercover investigation into several farms and markets near Beijing, China. Each housed more than 300 'raccoon dogs'. Video shows grinning worker ripping fur from around live animal's head.

Over 100 animals were confiscated from a private zoo called 'Club de los Animalitos' after Animal Equality revealed that bears, lions, and other animals were suffering from physical and psychological problems. The resulting media coverage revealed that the zoo owner had been evading welfare inspections due to his political position.

Animal Equality released an investigation into Italy’s lamb meat industry, this time focusing on the nightmarish journey that the lambs often must endure before being killed in slaughterhouses.

An investigation into one of the largest duck farms in Germany revealed that ducks were extremely confined, leading to psychological stress and illness. Many ducks were unable to stand up. Workers roughly handled them, crushed them, and even impaled them with pitchforks. Some animals there thrown in the trash while still alive.

Animal Equality used a drone to capture footage of the Gadhimai Animal Sacrifice in India, which takes place during the Gadhimai festival every five years. We witnessed fields strewn with thousands of dead animals. The footage, which also showed how animals were killed in full view of each other and human children, helped reduce the number of animals killed by 69 percent at the following festival.

Animal Equality investigated one of about 200 Italian facilities where ritual slaughtering is permitted (Halal and Kosher) in Italy. The findings showed that animals endure painful and terrifying deaths during Halal slaughter phase during the “Feast of Sacrifice” (“Aid al Ahda”), prompting Animal Equality to push for a ban of ritual slaughter in Italy.