No More Greeting Cards of Apes in Costumes? PETA Says It Forced CVS to Stop Selling Them

No More Greeting Cards of Apes in Costumes? PETA Says It Forced CVS to Stop Selling Them

In 2014, CVS removed cigarettes and tobacco products from its shelves. 

Now, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is claiming victory for the elimination of another item from the Woonsocket-based retailer. 

“CVS’ greeting card aisle is getting a whole lot more humane,” wrote Katherine Sullivan for PETA this week. “After learning from PETA that cards featuring great apes wearing costumes, displayed in studios, or interacting with humans hinder conservation efforts, the drugstore giant has banned them from its nearly 10,000 stores! The cards have largely disappeared from the stores’ inventories, and any that may remain are being removed.”

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CVS did not respond to request for comment at time of publication. 

“Unnatural images of chimpanzees mislead consumers into believing that the species—which may face extinction within our lifetime—is thriving,” Sullivan continued. “These portrayals may also increase the black market demand for endangered great apes as ‘pets,’ which is one of the main forces driving them toward extinction.”

“Chimpanzees aren’t models or props, and photos of them wearing Santa hats or sitting at the holiday table put these endangered animals at risk,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.

PHOTO: Flickr David Kline/The Con-munity Culture Geek CC 2.0