Stephen Fry has backed an animal welfare campaign calling for an end to the use of real fur for bearskin caps worn by King’s Guards who guard Buckingham Palace.The actor narrated a PETA video purporting to show footage from an undercover investigator with hunters in Ontario, Canada.
He says: “Black bears like this are mercilessly killed by trophy hunters. Their fur may then be used to make the caps worn by the King’s Guard – purely ornamental headgear that serves no military purpose.”
Fry goes on to explain that, in Ontario, “hunters buy tags that give them license to slaughter with crossbows”.
The video shows the bears being “baited” by buckets of bagels, biscuits and oil before being shot.
But Fry says not all bears who are shot are killed instantly, with some left to die later of wounds or blood loss.
Hunters are seen disembowelling the creatures, before their body parts are reportedly used for trophies and their fur sold.
"By continuing to purchase caps made of black bear fur, the UK government drives demand for pelts and effectively incentivises hunters," Fry says.
PETA wants the UK to use faux fur for the caps they claim “meets all criteria outlined by the Ministry of Defence (MoD)”, including water absorption, water penetration appearance, drying rate and compression.
But a MoD spokesperson denied this, saying: “To date and to the Department’s knowledge, an alternative has yet to meet the standards required to provide an effective replacement for the bearskin ceremonial caps”.
They also said: “Bears are not hunted to order for the Ministry of Defence and bear pelts used are a product of legal and licensed hunts.”
Fry argued that "tradition is never an excuse for cruelty”, adding: "Britain has always prided itself on being sporting, but these bears - lured with cookies to the hunters' hiding place - stand no chance of survival."
At least 47,000 people have signed a PETA petition calling for the UK to “set a compassionate example by switching to high-tech, luxurious faux fur”.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
