Together with World Animal Protection Thailand, We Animals photojournalists Haig and Taichi Kaito investigated the brutal lives of broiler chickens on industrial farms supplying popular fast-food chains in Thailand. We documented disturbing visuals, including the hand-catching of birds, overcrowding, and sick and dying chickens.
During September 2022, in partnership with World Animal Protection Thailand, our team conducted a survey and investigation of contracted industrial chicken farms in central and eastern regions of Thailand—an area which raises chickens to supply restaurants and corporate supermarket chains for local and international distribution. Chicken meat is Thailand’s third largest export, and the industry kills almost almost two billion birds each year.
Despite claims being made by popular fast-food chains that their suppliers’ chickens are raised with care and live healthy lives, the findings from our investigation reveal the grim reality for birds inside Thailand’s poultry farms, as presented in World Animal Protection’s comprehensive report, The Real Secret Recipe: Revealing the Hidden Secrets of Chicken Meat Production.
“We want to bring the evidence, these videos and photos, to show Thai people the atrocity that really exists in the chicken industry.” ― Orkorn Thanachalakorn, Head of Campaigns, World Animal Protection Thailand
Editor's Note:
Our work in this region was only possible because of Asian advocates who work on behalf of animals across Asia. While these visuals depict a specific region, animal exploitation is a global issue taking place in every country.
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Intensively reared chickens are housed by the tens of thousands in sheds on industrial farms all around the globe. Chickens can live for over six years under natural conditions. On industrial farms, they will live for approximately 45 days before being sent to slaughter.
During this assignment, our photojournalists documented farms with between 22,000-27,000 birds per shed. Broiler chickens are bred to produce the maximum amount of meat on the thigh and breast in the shortest time possible. The birds on the farms we visited are housed in sheds with continuous artificial lights kept on for up to 24 hours a day and with fans running to maintain a temperature of approximately 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). This combination of lighting and temperature stimulates the birds to eat and drink continuously, which leads to rapid weight gain. The pressure this puts on their bodies causes many to suffer from heart attacks or become unable to hold their own body weight, resulting in lameness.
All around the world, birds raised for meat are treated as units of production. Every part of their lives is mechanized, a step on a production line.
In response to the findings of this investigation, World Animal Protection is now urging KFC in Thailand to commit to better chicken welfare on the country’s broiler farms.
“The suffering of food animals must not be normal. It must be something that society cannot accept. We all must help stop these atrocities immediately, and it starts with calling on the industry and businesses in the supply chain, such as KFC, to join the Better Chicken Commitment to improve chicken welfare policies and practices.” ― Rojana Sungthong, Director of World Animal Protection Thailand
See more from this investigation and support the campaign via World Animal Protection Thailand’s website: The Real Secret Recipe
Data sources: Nation Thailand / Krungsri / World Animal Protection Thailand
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