Animal rights group PETA calls for Warhammer fur clothing ban

Animal rights organisation PETA has asked Warhammer publisher Games Workshop to remove the depiction of characters wearing fur from its range of miniatures and games.

PETA, which has become well-known for its anti-fur campaigns involving celebrities and its calls for the humane treatment of animals both in reality and fiction, said in a statement that it had written to Games Workshop CEO Kevin Rountree to request a ban on the portrayal of fur clothing in the Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 universes.

The move is likely to rile up some fans of the series who see the ethical treatment of animals in real life and the depiction of fur and animal suffering in fictional worlds as different, a stance that PETA acknowledged in a statement.

"From the mighty Leman Russ and Horus Lupercal to Chaos Warriors and the Sisters of Silence, Warhammer features an abundance of characters who wear what appear to be animal pelts, which just doesn't add up,” it said.

“These battle-hardened warriors are known for their martial prowess – but wearing the skins of dead animals doesn't take any skill.

“Draping them in what looks to be a replica of a dead animal sends the message that wearing fur is acceptable – when, in fact, it has no more place in 2017 than it would in the year 40,000.”

Although it is yet to make a similar move into the tabletop industry, PETA has become a publisher of several video games dedicated to parodying famous titles such as Mario, Pokémon and Cooking Mama and promoting its pro-animal principles.