What PETA Accomplished in 2024
It’s been a year of landmark wins for animals. Find out what PETA accomplished in 2024! Our end-of-year video rounds up the major victories for animals that our supporters helped achieve, illustrating just some of PETA’s work in 90 seconds.
We achieved much more besides. Read more below to discover how PETA was there for animals every day in 2024.
PETA Helped Rescue Animals Around the World
Teams supported through PETA’s Global Compassion Fund risked their lives to rescue animals in war-torn Ukraine, provided veterinary care and distributed life-saving aid to animals in the aftermath of Typhoon Gaemi and Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines, and sterilised thousands of cats and dogs to help mitigate the homeless-animal crisis in countries from Romania to Mexico.
We Saw Progress Against Animal Experimentation
The UK government banned the use of the cruel forced swim test to model human depression or for studies of anxiety and its treatment. The news followed years of relentless campaigning by PETA, including a petition to the Home Office signed by over 40,000 supporters. Thank you to everyone who joined this campaign! Furthermore, Lord Sharpe of Epsom, former parliamentary under secretary of state for the Home Office, stated his intention to ban the test entirely, something PETA will continue to demand of the current government.
In another win against the cruel and widely criticised test, three independent medical research funding bodies committed to not funding any future use of the forced swim test. after PETA got in touch.
AELF FlightService’s Maleth Aero stopped shipping sensitive monkeys to laboratories after hearing from nearly 115,000 PETA entity supporters, who overwhelmed the company with e-mails and phone calls. This hard-fought campaign by PETA and other animal protection groups, including Action for Primates, has prevented the airline from stuffing terrified animals into cramped wooden crates, locking them in cargo holds, and flying them around the world to be used in cruel experiments.
Live Export Was Banned
After years of campaigning by dedicated animal defenders, policymakers, and animal protection groups, Great Britain finally banned the live export of cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses. This historic move will spare many thousands of animals suffering and death on ships and lorries or a slow, terrifying death in a foreign abattoir. Thanks to everyone who fought for this ban, including over 100,000 PETA supporters who sent messages to the government.
The Australian government also finally set a date to end the live export of sheep by sea, thanks to decades of work by intrepid investigators, dedicated campaigners, and over 60,000 supporters of PETA entities around the world.
We Took Every Opportunity to Advocate for Vegan Living
PETA’s 2024 Christmas ad encouraged cinema-goers to show goodwill to all this festive season by leaving meat off their plates, while our eye-catching demonstrations across the country challenged speciesism and made people see the individuals behind their meals.
Our Supporters Persuaded Retailers to Drop Products of Cruelty
Co-op stopped selling own-brand coconut milk sourced from Thailand after PETA revealed that monkeys are chained and abused for coconut harvesting. Four separate PETA Asia investigations found that the use of monkey labour is pervasive throughout the coconut-farming industry in Thailand.
After PETA released a shocking video exposé showing how frogs are butchered alive in the cruel frog-meat industry in Indonesia, more than 90,000 supporters joined PETA entities around the world in writing to Carrefour Group. Their action persuaded Carrefour to end its sale of frog legs from Indonesia.
In a Victory for Birds, Brands Dropped Feathers
PETA joined hands with Stella McCartney to launch a feather-free pledge, and numerous retailers and designers – including Felder Felder, Eirinn Hayhow, Richard Malone, Patrick McDowell, VIN + OMI, Pīferi, Sarah Regensburger, and Joshua James Small – have already committed to never, ever using feathers.
H&M agreed to spare birds misery and stop sourcing new down feathers after a huge PETA entity campaign. The world’s second-largest clothing retailer committed to no longer sourcing new down
after dozens of demonstrations at H&M stores around the world, an appeal from Joaquin Phoenix, shareholder resolutions, and letters from more than 150,000 supporters of PETA entities.
After months of exchanges with PETA US about the cruel ways birds are raised and killed for their feathers, Victoria’s Secret used only beautiful handcrafted faux feathers for the models’ angel wings at its 2024 fashion show, and accessories retailer Claire’s confirmed it would no longer buy feathers.
Fur Received Royal Disapproval
PETA received confirmation from Buckingham Palace that Queen Camilla will not procure fur for her wardrobe, a decision that mirrors that of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Italian fashion house Max Mara Fashion Group finally dropped fur following long-standing campaigns by PETA entities and several other animal rights organisations as well as many thousands of e-mails from animal advocates around the world.
And French luxury label Maison Margiela has confirmed it “will no longer source angora rabbit fur for future collections”.
These Designers Banned Wild-Animal Skins
PETA celebrated when Marc Jacobs dropped wild-animal skins, joining the long list of luxury brands that have banned the use of crocodile, lizard, ostrich, snake, and other wildlife skins in their collections.
Tory Burch – whose products are sold at House of Fraser and Harrods – confirmed that it would no longer use reptile skins, and watch brand Bulova – owned by industry giant Citizen Watch Company – confirmed that it no longer buys new reptile skins for its products.
Fashion Weeks Made Progressive Moves
The British Fashion Council banned wild-animal skins from its catwalks less than a year after banning fur. Copenhagen Fashion Week also banned exotic skins and feathers, having banned fur in 2022. And the founder of Helsinki Fashion Week, which dropped leather in 2018, signed PETA’s Feather-Free Pledge, promising never to showcase feathers on her platforms.
Travel Providers Dropped Cruel Activities After Hearing From PETA
Following nearly two years of tireless campaigning by PETA, the UK’s largest travel provider, Jet2holidays, stopped selling tickets to marine abusement parks where orcas and other dolphins and whales are held captive for human amusement. PETA’s intense campaign included demonstrations at the company’s annual meetings and across the country; more than 100,000 protest letters from compassionate members of the public, scientists, conservationists, and organisations which specialise in cetacean welfare; and support from celebrities such as Morrissey, Faye Winter, Olivia Bowen, and Belle Hassan.
easyJet holidays worked with PETA on a policy that protects animals by not supporting harmful attractions and tours like marine parks, animal displays, and camel rides. The new policy bans selling or promoting marine parks, zoos, aquariums, animal rides and performances, and any other activity for which captive animals are used for entertainment or tourist transport.
More UK travel companies, including Hays Travel and Travel Republic, agreed not to offer or promote animal rides at the Giza pyramids in Egypt after PETA exposed horrific cruelty to camels and horses at the tourist destination. And almost 55,000 supporters called on the Egyptian government to end animal rides.
King Charles Withdrew Royal Patronage for Pigeon Racing
PETA secured a royal win for gentle pigeons when King Charles refused royal patronage for the Royal Pigeon Racing Association and the National Flying Club. The momentous news followed numerous appeals by PETA respectfully calling on His Majesty to do right by these brave birds and distance himself from the cruel industry. Racers exploit pigeons’ natural homing instinct to return to their families by releasing them overseas, hundreds of miles from home, and forcing them to endure perilous journeys, which many do not survive. It also comes after PETA took possession of three pigeons up for auction from the Royal Loft, protecting them from being used as breeding machines for the racing industry and ensuring them a safe home.
And the Victories for Animals Kept Coming
• Digital company EFT Systems was the latest sponsor to drop the Grand National, the UK’s most dangerous horse race, after receiving more than 80,000 messages from PETA supporters.
• Scotland banned the purchase and use of deadly glue traps after more than 35,000 PETA supporters wrote to Scottish officials. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act also bans snares.
• Greetings card manufacturer UK Greetings confirmed it has stopped featuring unnatural and degrading images of chimpanzees on its products after hearing how such representation hinders conservation efforts from PETA.
• The slaughter of donkeys for their skin was outlawed across the African continent under a 15-year ban introduced by the African Union.
See You in 2025!
In 2024, PETA was loud, bold, and determined to open people’s eyes to the cruelty inflicted on animals for trivial human interests. Thank you to everyone who helped us achieve so much and refused to look away or stay silent while animals suffered. In 2025, we’ll be doing even more to inspire kinder choices and take all opportunities to help everyone understand that every animal is someone. Join our efforts in 2025 – take action for animals and sign up to our Action Team to stay updated on our campaigns:
