Shoppers in Sydney's CBD have copped an eyeful with a group of animal rights activists stripping off for a naked protest against live animal exports.
Heads turned as 24 young men and women wearing only skimpy green satin dressing gowns sauntered out into the middle of Pitt Street Mall at 1pm (AEST).
The group quickly disrobed and draped themselves on the cold paving slabs around a placard stating "Animals suffer and die in live export".
No doubt to the disappointment of some onlookers, all naughty bits remained covered by flesh-coloured sticky tape above and g-strings below.
The protesters endured the cold, occasional sniggers and a barrage of photographs from media, tourists and the voyeuristic alike in the hope some might see past the skin on show and heed their message.
Kate Monroe, 30, said it was an easy decision to strip off to raise awareness about the cruelty of live animal exports.
"I think it's a very worthy cause. There's millions of animals that die in horrendous conditions," Ms Monroe told AAP.
"Any attention we can bring to the problem to try to get people to do something about it is why I am here today."
Angie Stephenson of Animal Liberation NSW, which organised the protest with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), called for an end to "death ships" that carry millions of live sheep and cattle from Australia to the Middle East.
The animals were packed inside the ships for up to three gruelling weeks and endured terrible conditions, she said.
Live exporters factored into their business that a percentage of the animals would die, she said.
"What we are asking (Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd today is to think about each and every animal that is exported overseas and to stop this cruel, barbaric trade," Ms Stephenson said.
Ms Stephenson said naked protest was a non-threatening way to highlight the issue of live exports.
The public would be very confronted if they saw images of what happened aboard the ships, she said.
"Live export is very cruel. You see sheep having their throats slit, being dragged across bloody floors and being killed in front of their fellow travel-mates," Ms Stephenson said.
The Livestock Export Animal Welfare Group said the naked protest was a stunt that showed the activists were out of touch.
LiveCorp chief executive Cameron Hall, a member of the group, said the Australian industry invested $1.6 million each year to improve animal welfare around the world.
"Australia is the only country involved in the livestock export trade that is dedicated to improving animal welfare standards to the countries we export to," Mr Hall said.
"Our commitment ... is something for Australians to be proud of."