High fashion shoot starring Kate Upton as nurse to baby tiger, lion and gibbon sparks anger from animal rights activists
- The Harper's Bazaar spread was styled by Carine Roitfeld and will appear in all 26 international editions of the magazine
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The Harper's Bazaar spread, titled The Animal Nursery, was styled by Carine Roitfeld and will appear in all 26 international editions of the magazine.
But PETA argues that the endangered animals are being treated like props. In a statement published on Fashionista.com, the organization singled out the young gibbon as being particularly vulnerable.
Fashion gone wild? Kate Upton poses with a three-month-old tiger in the new issue of Harper's Bazaar. But animal rights activists have voiced concern over the feline's welfare
It read: 'The gibbon featured in the photographs is an infant and should be with his mother at all times. Besides the emotional trauma that he has undoubtedly suffered as a result of the separation, his delicate immune system is still developing, and he is susceptible to illnesses that humans carry.
'All the animals in the photographs are endangered and should be protected, rather than being treated like props.'
Suzie Dundas USA Communications Manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals also expressed reservations.
'Though Carine Roitfeld may have had the best intentions, the animals used in this ad are endangered, exotic animals – they're not domesticated and shouldn’t be viewed as cuddly pets,' she told MailOnline.
Monkey business: A seven-month-old gibbon also featured in the high fashion shoot, and was provided by the Miami-based Zoological Wildlife Foundation
Nurse Kate: The supermodel plays carer to the young endangered animals while posing in Chanel
'Even if these animals were sourced legally, the global exotic pet trade involves capturing, killing, and harming animals to remove them from the wild for breeding or – in the case of these ads – entertainment. It is in the nature of these animals to be wild, and this ad could misrepresent to consumers how dangerous (and endangered) they truly are.'
'These animals are hand-raised by humans because the mother has rejected them. Without us, they would not have survived'
The three-month-old tiger and the seven-month-old gibbon featured in the shoot were provided by the Miami-based Zoological Wildlife Foundation, which was furious about the PETA accusations.
ZWF Vice President Maria Tabraue told MailOnline that its animals are captive-born for at least five generations.
'These [animals] are hand-raised by humans because the mother has rejected them,' she explained, adding that without the organization's help, they would not have survived.
Small wonder: A baby leopard also featured in the Carine Roitfeld-styled shoot, though it was not supplied by the Zoological Wildlife Foundation
'They have the care of two full time veterinarians, and get the same respect, love and passion as a human being,' she added.
Of the animals' treatment on photo shoots, she added: 'These animals are always accompanied by professional, licensed handlers.'
The ZWF hopes that its words will reassure commenters who have voiced concern about the animals' welfare.
Defense: The Zoological Wildlife Foundation says its animals are captive-born for at least five generations, and are hand-raised by humans because the mother has rejected them
Initial reactions to the shoot were extreme. One wrote on Fashionista.com: 'I will no longer be buying Harpers after this.'
Another added: 'This is disgusting use of an endangered infant primate to sell clothes. This poor gibbon was no doubt ripped from its mother in the wild, just to become the play item of a dumb fashion model. Really… what is the matter with people??'
And a third acerbically read: 'Endangered primates as accessories?! Makes the model unattractive, the stylist talentless, and the magazine more valuable as toilet paper.'
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