Threatened wildlife products sold at expo
PHOTOS and video taken by animal welfare activists at a recent trophy hunting convention show an array of products crafted from the body parts of threatened big-game animals, including boots, chaps, belts and furniture labelled as elephant leather.
Vendors at the Safari Club International event held last week in Reno, Nevada, also were recorded hawking African vacations to shoot captive-bred lions raised in pens. The club has previously said it wouldn’t allow the sale of so-called canned hunts at its events.
Hidden camera footage was released on Friday by the Humane Society of the US. Federal and state laws restrict the commercial sale of hides from African elephants, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Safari Club spokesperson Rachel Harris did not respond to a request for comment. The group also didn’t respond to e-mailed questions about steps it takes to ensure exhibitors at its events are following the law.
“This hunters’ heaven has everything the mind can dream of and occupies 19 812m2 of exhibit space,” the group’s website boasts. “Six continents are under one roof where SCI members come to book hunts, rendezvous with old friends and shop for the latest guns and hunting equipment.”
Humane Society investigators purchased tickets to the conference and prowled the exhibit booths with concealed cameras. They recorded racks of clothing and other products made from the hides, bones and teeth of imperilled African wildlife.
“Making money off the opportunity to kill these animals for bragging rights is something most people around the world find appalling,” said Kitty Block, acting president of the society. |