Tattoo Auction of Animal Rights Activist Ended

February 7, 2005

Wed Feb 2, 2005 09:54 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - A plan by an animal rights activist to sell-off a

lizard tattoo on her right arm came unstuck Tuesday when the online

auction house she was using pulled the plug on electronic bidding.

eBay UK removed " Lizard Skin, " an auction offered by Ingrid Newkirk,

the British founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

(PETA) because her ad breached guidelines.

PETA, the world's biggest animal rights group, said eBay regarded the

tattoo as " human remains " which contravened the company's policy to

not allow auctions of human body parts.

Newkirk said in a statement she was unimpressed by the move:

" I am just another animal, these are animal remains, " she said.

" You can't miss the irony when it is acceptable to steal skins from

their original owners and auction them off, but forbidden to auction a

person's voluntarily offered skin to be surrendered only upon her death. "

Billed as " waterproof and weathered " and " suitable for making into a

wallet or watch strap, " the tattoo was offered to draw attention to

the plight suffered by skinned animals.

Proceeds had been due to go to charity.

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