Do You Own Snake or Reptile Skin Products?

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Originally Posted by voodoolamb

I started looking into starting a non profit to connect fashion designers to sources of flordia python hides with the hopes some of the profits from the sales of their high end products could be donated back into efforts to preserve local wildlife and to raise awareness...

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That's a really cool idea. It's also too bad the meat is contaminated with mercury so it shouldn't be eaten, as python filet is really pricey.

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Originally Posted by DarthSlitherus

Heartbreaking... How old was your baby girl?

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Was almost 4.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Was almost 4.

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Far too young. So sorry.

I don't, and wouldn't. Just not my thing.

I just think snake skin products are ugly, personally.

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Only a couple of snake skin backed bows that I got in trades. It looks neat, but I'm not a big enough fan of the look to put them on any bows I build, especially with artificial skins available that looks close enough to the real then when applied right. Now the sheds I will put on my bows. It makes a neat looking scale pattern while letting the wood grain show through.

Kyle


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I think I have a lot of answers to this question besides a simple yes or no. In some instances, I am perfectly fine with using snake skins ....in others situations, no.

Just some thoughts:

Alligator farming is actually pretty neat and was basically the result of over harvesting wild gators. Farmers now collect wild eggs, artificially incubate them for higher hatch rates, raise them, release some back into the wild but harvest some for skin and meat. Some consider it a conservation method. I really do not see an issue with it. No difference than raising cows for beef and leather.

There was an article in Reptiles Magazine about a guy that rides around at night in Arizona area and collects road killed snakes. He uses the road kill snakes to make wallets, belts, etc. Great use of a dead animal that was just going to waste. If you want to be concerned over something, be concerned over the fact that vehicles kill more snakes, turtles, lizards than just about any other reason.

There are several companies that are working with shed snake skin are doing awesome stuff. They even have ways to preserve, strengthen and enhance the color of shed snake skin. Really interesting stuff.

I actually do not disagree with harvesting animals for skin/meat, etc. if conservation is kept in mind.

Now, massive rattlesnake killings at roundups and such is wrong and irresponsible. I can never agree with it.

Also, the illegal trade in animal skins is ridiculous, but again no conservation in mind.

I've never owned anything made of reptile skin; I've had pet snakes for more than half my life, and I just can't stomach snakeskin stuff. I'm not vegan, I wear leather boots and work with leather occasionally. But I've never had a cow living in my house, poking it's head out when I came in the room, etc. I've met some wonderful, friendly goats, cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc, and yet I still eat more meat than I probably should. But somehow snakeskin just looks to me like a piece of Fido turned into a fashion accessory.

I don't have moral objections to using the skins of snakes that died of natural causes or were culled because they were invasive it was humanely done. But I still wouldn't buy it.

I know some people like to taxidermy their deceased pets, but that seems totally weird to me. Sort of like, I dunno, not being able to admit that Fido is gone and trying to pretend he's not. Or something.

My wallet is monocled cobra. Made from a friend's cobra. He had cancer and was put down. So my friend made like 5 wallets out of him to pay for a new one.

I honestly don't see the difference in animal products of any sort. If it is harvested humanely and ethically is all that matters to me personally.

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