The kangaroo is an icon of Australia. For those not from Australia, the marsupial is certainly one of the first things we think of when we think of the continent. It’s probably also one of the first native things Australian themselves think about. Yet, this icon is killed in devastating numbers each year for their skin. If you haven’t heard of it, kangaroo leather is real and more companies than you probably know about use it in their products.

One of the companies contributing to the mass slaughter of kangaroos and using their leather is Nike.

Center for a Humane Economy, a new US-based non-profit organization has recently launched a campaign urging Nike to stop using kangaroo skin for soccer shoes. The campaign called Kangaroos Are Not Shoes states: “More than two million kangaroos are shot each year in Australia. It’s the largest land-based commercial wildlife slaughter in the world.”

They also explain that, “the Australian government sanctions and subsidizes the hunts, with kangaroo meat going to pet food and the skins to manufacturers like Nike and adidas for ‘k-leather’ soccer shoes.”

You can join the campaign and add your voice by signing their petition!

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