Overview

• PETA sent an open letter on August 14 asking Nintendo to remove the brass nose ring from the Cow character in Mario Kart World.
• The organization details how nose rings are “crudely stabbed” through cows’ septums and used by meat and dairy industries to exploit and control animals.
• PETA cites its more than 10 million global members in urging Nintendo to redesign the viral character’s look to avoid normalizing animal cruelty.
• The Cow character has become a social media sensation since Mario Kart World’s June debut on the Switch 2, intensifying focus on its design choices.
• Nintendo has made no public comment on PETA’s demand and the Cow’s nose ring remains unchanged in the game.