Progress is coming—especially in the fight against trophy hunting. We helped persuade Parliament to submit bills and amendments that would ban the import of hunting trophies. And in 2023, Italy’s leading airline—ITA Airways—joined our #NotInMyWorld campaign, which seeks to end trophy hunting by banning the transport of such trophies.
The country is also setting a powerful example in the fight against fur. In 2021, Italy banned fur farming, a move that shut down the country’s 10 mink fur farms. Our expertise and advocacy efforts helped make this change possible.
Along with our partners, we’ve encouraged many Italian fashion designers—such as Gucci, Prada and Max Mara—to drop fur.
We’ve also recognized Italian companies making a difference for farmed animals. In 2020, we honored Barilla—the world’s largest pasta manufacturer—for its leadership in adopting and implementing a policy stop using eggs from hens who are confined to cages.
To end dogfighting, we launched an “Io non combatto” (“I don’t fight”) campaign, which led to the rescue of several dogs used for dogfighting. We also created a guide that helps people identify signs of this illegal activity, and we developed an educational brochure for schools. And we provided specialized training to state police officers involved in gambling and betting enforcement.
There’s more work to be done.
Italy still imports hunting trophies of endangered species. Between 2013 and 2022, Italy imported 492 hunting trophies from protected species—including elephants and polar bears. Italy is also one of just five countries to have imported a trophy from the critically endangered black rhinoceros.
We’re tackling trophy hunting from many angles. We pressure the Italian government—and the Parliamentary majority supporting it—to ban the import of hunting trophies. And we’re encouraging Italians to join this advocacy work.
We are also focused on creating better living conditions for farmed animals. As of 2020, some 300 million animals were confined to cages in the EU, 45 million of those in Italy. Humane World for Animals is committed to reducing those numbers and giving pigs, chickens, and other farmed animals more room to move.
To promote fur-free policies, we continue collaborating with the fashion industry. We encourage brands to adopt cruelty-free practices and shift away from using fur.
And we’re continuing efforts to combat dogfighting by providing law enforcement with the skills to identify and address this cruel practice. We also contribute to expert research on dogfighting, deepening understanding of its prevalence and impact. And we actively engage public opinion, raising awareness about the issue and encouraging communities to recognize and report signs of dogfighting.
Please join us. Together, we will tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change.
Humane World for Animals. The end of animal cruelty.