Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.Here within the so-called “room of the sacrifice.” The alligators are killed by a cut on her neck made by hand with a knife by a specific operator, this operator is used only to this task.
[ EPF 2015 FINALIST ]
We all know intensive farming, which uses industrial and scientific techniques to get the maximum amount of product at the lowest cost and using minimal space. A practice widespread in all the developed countries.
Yet we know much less about how intensive farming actually works in reality regarding the huge business of animal skins destined to the high fashion market. I show you the sacrifice hidden behind the ruthless values expressed by this hellish trade, and its cultural trend dominated by remorseless standards of beauty.
The business volume amounts to several millions of Euros and although the breeding of animal skins has long been opposed by animal rights movements, which led to massive campaigns against this practice especially in the eighties and nineties.We have to wonder if there is a need of new laws, or just a cultural awareness.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.Thousands of caiman skins stretched out in the open after the first cleaning process and salting on the farm.The skins of breeding “Repticosta” are intended to Eastern Market, the skins will be exhibited here in Singapore within 20 days.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp.Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.Here the conveyor belt where the mink are transported from one building to another. In the background the bodies without mantles are stacked in a large container, after being processed.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp.Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.The panoramic view of intensive mink of the Polish company “Nutrex”, one of the largest and most important in Northern Europe. In these hangars are bred tens of thousands of minks every year and their skins are used mainly for the manufacture of China, the most important in the world today.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.A caiman adult (2.5 mt) inside a fenced breeding marsh.On the platform of cement has been poured for the weekly meal caimans adults.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp. Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland. Here the conveyor belt where the mink are transported from one building to another. In the background the bodies without mantles are stacked in a large container, after being processed.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.An operator performs the cuts on the skin of a caiman just shot down. This delicate process and occurs in several steps.The alligators are killed by a cut on her neck made by hand with a knife by a specific operator, this operator is used only to this task.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp. Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland. Here the rooms responsible for separation of mantles from their bodies.
Colombia, two hours from Barranquilla. Here during the packaging to ship to destination skins ready for tanning processing.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp. Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland. Here in the warehouse where dead minks are stored, ready to be processed. “Nutrex” company process about 6.000 minks per day, this rhythm goes on for about two months a year.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.An operator assigned to the tanks of the largest alligators on the farm. Here the operator controls that the meal has been consumed.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.The puppies are moved in tanks with different characteristics, depending on the size and health emergencies caimans. Here in the photo, hundreds of caimans of about 70 cm. in a large tub.
Poland, here inside one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.In this warehouse came the lifeless bodies of the minks, killed by gas fumes. Mink will be subsequently placed on a conveyor belt and transported to the various rooms where mantles will be separated from their bodies.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.The puppies are moved to larger tanks and with different characteristics, depending on the size and health emergencies caimans. Here in the photo, some caimans of about 70 cm. inside a tank where it is regularly paid an antibiotic estimate (the blue liquid), to ensure the occurrence of serious infections.
Colombia, Puerto Giraldo, two hours from Barranquilla.Within an intensive rearing of crocodiles.Here in the room used to separate the skins from the body of the caimans. This process, like any other work on the farm, is exclusively manually.
For example, most of the intensive farming of furry animals are concentrated in the northern hemisphere in Europe, where at the first positions we find Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands. At the same time, looking at east, China is the world leader in the manufacture and in the southeast side, we find countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam which represent the main market of snakes and many species of reptiles. At the other side, in the western hemisphere, Canada and the United States are the largest producers of furs and reptile skins, but for what concerns the crocodile skins production, in South America we have strong competitors such as Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia.
At date, I accomplished the first two chapters, in Colombia, where I told the destiny of crocodiles and in Poland, working inside a minks intensive farm. I’ll tell you this ruthless process with an unprecedented document on this terrifying phenomenon, a monstrosity in accordance with law that is perpetrating from decades, the extermination of animal species destined for the market of high fashion.
Italy, Milan in September 2014, caiman skins exposed during the most important showroom in the world, called “LINEAPELLE.” Thousands of workers are coming to this event from all over the world.
Colombia, two hours from Barranquilla. A caiman adult (2.5 mt) inside a fenced swamp. This male of about 2.5 meters is used only as a player and is not intended to function within the production cycle of skins for trade.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp.Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.Here during the killing of the minks ready to be processed. The killing is done by gas fumes..
Here inside one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.In this warehouse came the lifeless bodies of the minks, killed by gas fumes. Mink will be subsequently placed on a conveyor belt and transported to the various rooms where mantles will be separated from their bodies.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp.Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.Here inside warehouses tailoring, hanging on the wall paper patterns that will serve the dressmakers to pack the right models in fur.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp.Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.Here inside warehouses tailoring during the drying process of the skins of minks.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp.Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland.Here inside warehouses tailoring, a fox skin resting on a dummy.
Colombia, two hours from Barranquilla. Within an intensive breeding farm for crocodiles. Here during the capture of a caiman intended along with hundreds of other specimens, to the Asian market. The capture is performed manually and is made possible and safe through the experience of a team specially prepared. The first intervention immediately after the catch is the application of an elastic rubber band on the mouth of the alligator to prevent the animal bite.
Italy, Milan in September 2014, a fur coat of minks exposed during the most important showroom in the world, called “LINEAPELLE.” Thousands of workers are coming to this event from all over the world.
Poland, Village of “Biala Wies” close to Grodzisk Wlkp. Here inside the company “Nutrex” one of the most important intensive breeding of minks in all Poland. Here a specimen of mink in its cage, where they spend their entire life.
Bio
Paolo Marchetti is based in Italy. He has worked for thirteen years in the cinema industry. In his photography he pays particular attention to political and anthropological issues. He has covered stories in Brazil, Central America, Cuba, Eastern Europe, India, the United States, Haiti, China, Central Africa, Colombia etc.
He publishes his work in international magazines such as L’Espresso, Vanity Fair, 6MOIS, Sunday Times, British Journal of Photojournalism, The Guardian, Geo, Der Spiegel, Newsweek, CNN, New York Times, Time etc.
Marchetti has received several awards such as 5 times the NPPA – Best of Photojournalism, 4 times the PDN’s Award, the Sony WPO Award, the Getty Images Grant, finalist at the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, 4 awards at the POYi, the American Photography Annual Book, the ANI Pix-Palace, the Leica Photographer Award, the SDN – Social Documentary Network, the Alexia Foundation Grant and the World Press Photo etc.
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Paolo Marchetti
Hi everyone! Great and amazing essay by Paolo. I’ve seen this feature in the World Press Exhibition this year. Big pictures with a powerful color and message.
What’s is hidden beyond vanity, beyond eccentricity?
I personally think is a deep frustation, insecurity and soul emptiness as well.
Hence, with a cocodrile shoe you can attrack attention and have something to show/say to people who sourrounds you in party, dinner or gala.
Cocodrile, ivory, diamonds, luxury cars are the same… just another way to call vanity.
As Mies Van der Rohe used to say, “Less is More”
Have a great week.
@ BURN TEAM: Love the new architecture of the web site! Great work for a great summer to come! P.
we have always worn leather, we may always continue to wear leather. I would rather see a relatively humane farm using a non endangered/wild species than its alternative. The true horror is the battery farms used for the meat that most people eat without a thought. No vanity there; just suffering and profit.
and this does remind me i need a new pair of cowboy boots.
Clear vision good access and an interesting subject.