PETA Investigation Reveals Shocking Abuse of Deer in Taiwan

A new PETA investigation into Taiwan’s deer velvet supplement industry reveals horrific cruelty: gentle, sensitive deer spend their entire lives confined to small, barren pens—before enduring a gruesome procedure to remove their antlers.

In April 2025, PETA investigators visited a deer farm in Taiwan and documented harrowing scenes. Deer—some suffering from mange—were violently yanked by their antlers, pinned down, and had their limbs tied and stretched outward as workers sawed off their antlers. The male deer struggled desperately throughout the ordeal, clearly showing signs of pain, fear, and distress.

Held down by humans, these naturally skittish animals endure a terrifying and agonizing experience as their bodies are mutilated while they’re fully conscious and without pain relief. After cutting off the deer’s antlers, workers collected the animals’ blood and mixed it with alcohol for human consumption, despite the known risk of disease transmission. Deer can carry a number of dangerous zoonotic diseases, including Chronic Wasting Disease, which is similar to mad cow disease and may affect humans.

PETA has lodged a complaint to Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance. Despite clear violations of the Taiwan Animal Protection Act, the Governing Food Safety and Sanitation Act and the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act, these cruel facilities continue to operate legally, putting animal and human lives at risk.

A 2023 PETA investigation into the deer velvet industry in South Korea uncovered similarly appalling mistreatment.

Sellers of deer velvet supplements make dubious health claims, but there’s no credible scientific support for their use. What’s undeniable, though, is the severe suffering involved in their production.

You can help end this abuse. Please refuse to buy deer velvet or any other animal-derived substances, and encourage others to do the same. There’s a wealth of vegan supplements available to meet every health need. Deer deserve to live in peace—not in pain.