Primary school accused of ‘speciesism’ for letting children keep alpacas The school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire recently announced plans to expand its two-strong herd of alpacas to six – and PETA isn’t happy

Animal rights group PETA has accused a primary school of “speciesism” for letting pupils look after alpacas.

St Edward’s Prep School in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, currently has two of the animals in its “farm club” but recently announced plans to add another four.

The move has drawn criticism from PETA, which claims the fee-paying school is teaching children their to see animals as “objects for their amusement”.

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‘Farm club’

“Like sexism, racism, and all other toxic ‘isms’, speciesism – the idea that other species are here for humans to treat as toys or props to use and abuse – has no place in an educational institution,” PETA Director of International Programmes Mimi Bekhechi told i on Saturday.

“St Edward’s Cheltenham should not be teaching children to view animals as objects for their amusement but rather be instructing them in what we know today about their sentience, intelligence, emotional life, and behavioural needs.



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“Responsible parents should question the ethics of arranging for infant animals to be taken from their loving mothers and sold to the highest bidder.”

St Edward’s has made a request to Cheltenham Borough Council to expand its animal programme, which currently also features a brood of chickens and a herd of Golden Guernsey pigmy goats.

Under the plans, two castrated micropigs and 12 poultry birds for egg-laying will be added to the club as part of a “12 Days of Christmas” theme.

45-acre farm

The alpacas are petted by pupils for 30 minutes per day and will live on the school’s sprawling 45-acre farm.

But PETA has urged the local authority to reject St Edward’s application, which it labelled “insensitive”.

“PETA urges Cheltenham Borough Council to reject the school’s animal ‘wish list’, and we’re rushing some of our humane education packs to the school, in the hope that teachers and students alike will be inspired to replace lessons in insensitivity with ones in respect and kindness,” Ms Bekhechi added.



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The school said in a statement on its website that the animals have a groundsman who cleans the paddock twice a day.

There are also several vets on hand to ensure they have a clean bill of health.

“We encourage all our pupils to be mindful of their environmental responsibility and have respect for the world around them,” St Edward’s said.

“Farm Club is just one of the ways in which we can help to further their understanding of the importance of environmental issues.

“Members of the club take responsibility for a variety of tasks including cleaning out the enclosures, replenishing water and hay, and giving the animals food.”