UK-based animal welfare charity Viva! have spent over two decades campaigning against the sale of kangaroo meat, ensuring that all UK supermarkets are kangaroo meat free. Now, the charity is backing an innovative short film about kangaroo leather, created by Hollywood producer Gavin Palone (Gilmore Girls and Panic Room) and director Derek Ambrosi.
Many mistake leather as just a byproduct of the meat and dairy industry but it is a cruel and exploitative multi-billion pound industry.
Crocodiles are more closely related to dinosaurs and birds than to other reptiles and their ancestors have lived on this planet for more than 200 million years. Around 1.33 million crocodiles were killed each year worldwide from 2007 to 2010 and over 1.5 million in subsequent years. Their meat is a by-product of producing their expensive skins.
Kangaroos are native to the Australian landscape and uniquely adapted to survive its extreme climate hit by frequent droughts. Unfortunately ‘licenses to harm kangaroos’ are available to supply the commercial kangaroo meat trade and ‘k-leather’ industry. Kangaroo leather is used in high-end fashion and some professional football boot brands such as ADIDAS, Nike and Puma.