‘Crocodile’ to Protest Dishonest Exhibit at American Museum of Natural History

PETA Will Reveal Suffering of Wild Animals Held as Prisoners on Display, Gruesome Practices of Exotic-Skins Industry

For Immediate Release:
October 5, 2016

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

What:    On Thursday, visitors to the American Museum of Natural History will get an eyeful as a PETA supporter bodypainted to look like a crocodile lies trapped inside a plexiglass tank alongside two crocodile sculptures, while protesters play PETA’s video footage of the crocodile-skins trade. PETA’s message? That the museum should stop its exploitative live-crocodile exhibit, which also promotes the cruel exotic-skins industry.

When:    Thursday, October 6, 12 noon

Where:    Intersection of Central Park West and 79^th Street, New York

“Confining intelligent, sensitive, and endangered animals to tiny glass boxes and misleading people about the nasty exotic-skins trade is shockingly out of step with a public that shuns animal abuse,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA urges the American Museum of Natural History to end this dishonest exhibit and stop glossing over the nightmarish suffering that these animals endure when slaughtered for their skins.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear, … use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way”—notes that crocodiles, alligators, and other wild animals endure trauma and stress in captivity and can endanger the public. In addition, PETA has documented appalling conditions in the exotic-skins trade, including crocodiles kept in barren pits for years before being crudely slaughtered for “luxury” Hermès bags and other fashion accessories.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.