Growing Pressure on Australian Government, as Half a Million Global Supporters Demand an End to Live Lamb Cutting

JUNE 3, 2026 – BOSTON, MA. Last week, campaigners from FOUR PAWS handed over a petition signed by 500,000 supporters worldwide to Australian embassies and consulates in major cities across Europe and the United States. Their clear message to the Australian government is to end live lamb cutting — a practice responsible for an estimated ten million lambs being mutilated each year — and to bring animal welfare standards in line with public, fashion brands, and global market expectations. 

The global animal welfare organization’s coordinated demonstrations have taken place in Berlin, Bern, The Hague, London, and Sofia. FOUR PAWS staff from our U.S. office also met with officials at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. and emphasized the importance of having strong Australian leadership to end live lamb cutting and asked for a government review of current animal welfare standards and guidelines for sheep management in Australia.

Growing concern about animal cruelty in the wool industry is also reflected at the national level. In the U.S, 18,000 people have signed the petition calling for an end to live lamb cutting, alongside commitments from prominent national fashion brands. Together, these signatures and brand positions clearly demonstrate both public and market expectations within the U.S. for higher welfare standards in global wool supply chains.  

 In 2004, Australian wool industry leaders announced to phase-out the cruel practice of live lamb cutting by 2010, only to abandon this commitment one year before the deadline. As a result, the practice continues, and it is estimated that over 140 million lambs had to endure this painful procedure over the last 20 years. In 2024, FOUR PAWS published The Broken Promise Report to mark 20 years of inaction.  

The global movement of fashion brands against live lamb cutting is growing rapidly, with over 340 brands publicly committed to certified live lamb cut-free wool (mulesing-free) and nearly 150 international companies that have signed FOUR PAWS’ Brand Letter of Intent, including Hugo Boss, Adidas, and Patagonia. These brands are not just committed to a future free of live lamb cutting, they also directly call on the Australian wool industry and government to end the practice by 2030.  

In addition to engagement with fashion brands, the FOUR PAWS’ "Be Their Voice" campaign has brought together creative films, activism, celebrities, and influencers to speak out against the cruelty of live lamb cutting and urge a ban on the practice. This has been accomplished through our award-winning animated film, Sunny the Lamb, partnership with Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop, and several celebrity influencer videos.  

With Australia remaining the only country in the world where live lamb cutting is still practiced, FOUR PAWS believes there is a clear need for the Australian government to respond to citizen expectations, support wool producers in transitioning to breeding plain-bodied sheep and adopting modern farming practices, and ensuring alignment with international market standards.