Those exotic leather belts, crocodile handbags, and snakeskin boots might grab your attention, but the story behind their sourcing is not pretty.
Countless snakes, alligators, crocodiles, and lizards are slaughtered every year for luxury fashion products. While the exotic skin industry generates millions of dollars, the lack of transparency or meaningful regulations in many areas often enables animal welfare abuses.
In the U.S., as well as many other markets, reptiles are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act. Humane slaughter regulations don’t apply to them, which leave them exposed to some pretty crude methods.
Undercover investigations by animal protection organizations, as well as input from veterinarians, confirm that exotic skin harvesting typically involves massive suffering due to practices that are inherently cruel.
Animals are kept in tight, crowded confinement such as concrete pits or pens that prevent natural behaviors. They are forced to live in filthy water and many who are wounded through fighting experience infections and extreme stress.
The slaughter of crocodiles, who have thick skulls, has been documented showing them being bludgeoned with axes or hammers, having spikes driven into their spinal cords or brains, and conscious while being skinned alive.
Snakes might be decapitated or prepared for skinning by taping their mouth and anus shut and filling them with air or water to bloat their bodies in order to make the skinning process easier. Their slow metabolism guarantees extreme agony.
Unfortunately, I have viewed undercover videos which are the stuff of nightmares.
Much of the trade involves poaching and trafficking which are illegal. And while some brands insist that they adhere to the certifications for responsibly sourcing according to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), independent veterinarians claim that mass production involves stressful confinement and violent deaths.
Fortunately, the growing demand for compassionate choices has been compelling major designers to transition away from exotic skins. Additionally, with so many faux alternatives available today, it’s easy to make the kinder choice and let an animal keep their skin. They need it far more than we need that high-end fashion statement.
