PETA calls on Nintendo to remove the nose ring from the character "Cow" in Mario Kart

PETA has asked Nintendo to redesign the Mario Kart character "Cow" by removing the nose ring it wears, which activists say is a symbol of animal cruelty in the meat and dairy industries.

In a letter to Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, PETA pointed out that in reality, the rings are used to control cows and bulls, causing them pain. The organization also drew attention to the practice of attaching spiked rings to calves to prevent them from feeding from their mothers.

"This marvelous Moo Moo’s goofy grin has charmed gamers around the world, but her real-life counterparts who are tormented and violently yanked around by their noses have nothing to smile about," said PETA Vice President Joel Bartlett. "So leave the rings to Sonic and let Cow breathe free!"

In addition to the official letter, the youth division of peta2 urged its supporters to contact Nintendo with a demand to change the character's design.