Leave snake skins alone
SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is strongly opposed to the exploitation of wildlife for the exotic skins trade, mainly for the luxury fashion industry. The trade in exotic animal and reptile skins, in particular, generates thousands of animal victims to fulfil the demands of luxury fashion houses.
The recent decision by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to expand the python skin trade into the European market once the ban imposed by the European Union is lifted shows that monetary gains overrides all other concerns.
The python trade raises concerns for wildlife conservation, sustainability, illegality, the trade chain and animal welfare issues, among others. Python skin is much in demand for its unique irregular spots and stripes. That makes the species more valuable to people which in time to come may lead to its unbridled use and eventual extinction.
Are snake farms the solution in tackling the black market for python skin and conserving the species – while at the same time stocking fashion houses with the luxury diamond-patterned leather? There is much fear that the increasing demand for python-skin accessories from Europe’s fashion hous- es will put pressure on wild populations, thus fuelling underhand activities. Besides, there is no certainty in knowing whether a skin is farmed or taken from the wild.
On the other hand, captive breeding can be questionable because farms could act as fronts for people to catch wild snakes, then trade their skins as captive bred. So long as there is demand, there will always be a supplier.
The illegal trade in exotic skins – like all wildlife – is a high-profit, low-risk endeavour. There is easy money to be made, without worrying too much about getting caught. There are ways to avoid the legal system, either through falsification of permits or forgery of other documents.
The move for reform by the Wildlife and National Parks Department – tackling sustainability and traceability and the illegal network – may be good but it does not tackle the issue of animal welfare.
SAM believes that no sentient being deserves to be killed for something as frivolous as fashion. For behind the luxury fashion accessories lies a dark truth.
The barbaric, cruel, stomach-churning insights by witnesses of the skinning of snakes alive could make for gruesome reading. Snakes are commonly skinned alive in the belief that live flaying keeps the skins supple. Furthermore, laws to protect reptiles from such abuse are almost non-existent.
Equally pertinent are the growing concerns about the impact the reptile skin trade is having on fragile species and the eco-systems in which they live. Conservation of snakes is vital, due to the role they play within their ecosystems. If allowed to disappear from rice fields, their prey could cause devastating effects on agricultural production, food security and national economies.
People have come to fear these stunning animals, because of their unearned negative reputation. It is high time to consider the plight of the reticulated python, the most popular when it comes to the manufacture of shoes and handbags. There is fear that it cannot cope in the long term with the high outtake by the commercial skin trade.
Reptiles are cold-blooded but wearing their skins is cold-hearted. Leave the skins where it belongs – on its “original owner”.