Hot Fuzz actor Simon Pegg joins campaign against use of authentic bearskin caps
Actor and comedian Simon Pegg, best known for his roles in films Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, has joined an animal rights campaign against the use of authentic bearskins, which form part of the uniform of Britain's elite foot guard regiments.
In December, Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said there are "no plans" to replace the guards' ceremonial caps after analysing a man-made alternative and finding it only met "one of the five requirements to be considered a viable alternative".
The actor has branded the use of fur by the British Army "a disgrace".
Now, Pegg has joined celebrities, including Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, in the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) campaign against the use of fur by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Part of that contribution includes appearing in a poster campaign shot by the renowned photographer Rankin.
Pegg has branded the Army's use of fur "a disgrace", adding that bears have been "gunned down in Canada".
"It's a disgrace that soldiers in the Queen's Guard are still parading around with the fur of bears who were gunned down in Canada," the actor said.
"The caps serve no military purpose, and each one costs at least one bear their life.
"The ceremonial bearskins could easily be replaced with faux fur, retaining the traditional look but eliminating the cruelty."
He added: "It's time for the Ministry of Defence to drop the petty excuses and make the switch – it's what the British public wants and what bears need."
An Army spokesperson said: "Bears are never hunted to order for use by the MOD.
"Bear pelts that are used by the MOD are by-products of licensed culls by the Canadian authorities to manage the wild bear population.
"Therefore, any reduction in the number of bearskins procured by the MOD would not equate to a reduction in the numbers of bears being killed.
"Our Guardsmen take immense pride in wearing the bearskin cap which is an iconic image of Britain."
The spokesperson continued: "Ensuring the Guards caps remain both practical and smart is vital and currently there are currently no artificial alternatives available that meet the essential requirements for these ceremonial caps."
Of the 14 nations worldwide using bearskins as part of a ceremonial uniform, few have made the leap to using synthetic materials instead of real fur – with Italy and Sweden being two exceptions.
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