The founder of an animal rights group is to bequeath a piece of her neck to the King, one of her legs to the Grand National and a piece of her heart to Elon Musk in her will.
Campaigner Ingrid Newkirk, who set up Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) more than 40 years ago, is aiming to prolong her animal protection activism long after her death, the group said.
She has requested that when she dies Charles should receive a piece of her neck over the royal family’s long association with pigeon racing if he does not cut any ties to the sport.
When I die I hope to keep on surprising those who harm animals, provoking conversation about speciesism, and campaigning against animal abuse— Ingrid Newkirk
Peta claims the necks of losing birds are often wrung after enduring cross-Channel and other races. Many perish during such races.
Ms Newkirk has also requested in her updated will that some of her bare skin be left to the Ministry of Defence if it is still using real bear skin for the King’s Guards’ caps when faux fur is readily available.
To billionaire and Twitter owner Elon Musk, she will leave a piece of her heart for him to clone in response to his brain implant company Neuralink’s testing on animals.
Ms Newkirk has also asked for one of her legs to be removed and broken after her death and displayed at Aintree racecourse during the Grand National, to draw attention to the injuries horses have sustained during the famous race.
Animal rights campaigners called for jump racing to be banned and more stringent safety measures in the sport after three horses died at this year’s Grand National Festival.
Other requests in Ms Newkirk’s will include for her trachea to be sent to the administrators of dog show Crufts over allegations of the promotion of breathing-impaired breeds, and an ear to the King of Spain in protest against the country’s bullfighting, in which the matador often cuts off the bull’s ears as a trophy.
Ms Newkirk said: “On his deathbed, they asked Bob Hope where he wanted to be buried and he replied ‘Surprise me’.
“In my case, when I die I hope to keep on surprising those who harm animals, provoking conversation about speciesism, and campaigning against animal abuse.”
