PETA calls for Nintendo to redesign Mario Kart World’s Cow without nose ring

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA, is now taking issue with Mario Kart World and specifically the Cow character.

Cow is playable for the first time in series history. With that new popularity and overall interest in the game, it’s caught the attention of PETA. The organization is requesting for the nose ring to be removed.

PETA says that in the real world, these rings “are used by the meat and dairy industries to exploit, control, and even drag animals to their deaths.” The letter further goes on to talk about issues with the piercing. 

PETA’s full letter to Nintendo about Mario Kart World’s Cow is as follows:

Dear Mr. Furukawa:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA entities have more than 10 million members and supporters globally. We herd there’s a new star in Mario Kart World: Cow! She is already winning hearts everywhere—including ours. But one detail has us hitting the brakes: The brass ring in Cow’s nose. Would you please show empathy towards bovines and remove the nose ring? Here’s why this is so important:

Nose rings are used by the meat and dairy industries to exploit, control, and even drag animals to their deaths. These brass rings are crudely stabbed through the sensitive septum of cows and bulls, which can cause lasting pain and discomfort. The dairy industry will also clip spiked nose rings on baby cows so that the comforting act of nursing from their mother causes her pain and the baby is rejected and kicked away. To control bulls, a chain might be fastened from the nose ring to the bull’s horn for even more pain-driven control.

The brass ring in Cow’s nose glosses over real world violence and cruelty to animals. That’s why we’re asking you to give this beloved bovine a small but meaningful upgrade: Remove the nose ring and let Cow race freely- without any painful reminders of the industries that treat animals like profit-making machines.

Every animal is someone. So leave the rings to Sonic and let Cow breathe free!

Mario Kart World is currently available on Nintendo Switch 2. With the game having been out for a couple of months, we reexamined the game by looking at its pros and cons.