Its distinctive pattern with the diamond-shaped markings will add an exotic, wild touch to your outfit. You will look stylish and like a person who has very good and expensive taste. It costs a couple of thousand dollars, but there is also a much bigger hidden cost to owning a python bag.
The various python species are among the world's largest snakes. It is in fact their sheer size that makes their skin so desirable. The skins are long and wide, making it possible to cut large pieces. This means that anything made of this type of snakeskin requires fewer seams, making it the perfect exotic leather for items like big handbags, jackets and boots.
The problem is that there aren't many of the snakes left in the wild. CITES, which is the acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Exotic Species of wild fauna and flora, lists them as 'monitored species' or Appendix II species. This basically means that while they aren't on the endangered list yet, trade in them must be strictly controlled to prevent them from becoming endangered.
To trade in the live snakes or their skins, you have to get the proper permits, CITES certificates and other documentation. It is also important to check the local legislation about trading in the reptiles. For example, there has been a ban on trading in the reptiles' skin in California since 1970.
In order to meet the demand for snakeskin, snakes are being farmed. However, many environmentalists believe that there aren't really many actual snake farms. Most so-called farms still capture wild snakes instead because it's cheaper. Farming snakes isn't always economically viable, partly because the reptiles don't breed well in captivity.
The demand for snakeskin by the fashion industry has led to a burgeoning black market. This has led to over-harvesting, because the snakes are caught at a faster rate than they can reproduce. They are now in danger of going the same way as species like Siamese crocodiles that are now close to extinction after having had to meet the great demand for their leather. In addition, over-harvesting causes ecological imbalances. For example, rats become a problem in the snakes' traditional hunting grounds because there aren't enough snakes to keep their numbers in check.
Another disconcerting aspect of the snakeskin industry is the way that the reptiles are skinned. One method is to nail the snake's head to a tree, even though this usually doesn't kill the reptile. Another method involves first pumping its body full of water, which makes it expand. The next step is to make a few incisions in the skin and then to pull off the skin, preferably in one piece. This is a slow process, but the snake is usually alive and very conscious of what's happening. It will take the skinned reptile as much as three days before it dies.
Before you fork out for that designer python bag, think about what it really costs. Your purchase has a far bigger impact than you may realize. The snakes, the environment and you will be much better off if you go for faux instead.
The various python species are among the world's largest snakes. It is in fact their sheer size that makes their skin so desirable. The skins are long and wide, making it possible to cut large pieces. This means that anything made of this type of snakeskin requires fewer seams, making it the perfect exotic leather for items like big handbags, jackets and boots.
The problem is that there aren't many of the snakes left in the wild. CITES, which is the acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Exotic Species of wild fauna and flora, lists them as 'monitored species' or Appendix II species. This basically means that while they aren't on the endangered list yet, trade in them must be strictly controlled to prevent them from becoming endangered.
To trade in the live snakes or their skins, you have to get the proper permits, CITES certificates and other documentation. It is also important to check the local legislation about trading in the reptiles. For example, there has been a ban on trading in the reptiles' skin in California since 1970.
In order to meet the demand for snakeskin, snakes are being farmed. However, many environmentalists believe that there aren't really many actual snake farms. Most so-called farms still capture wild snakes instead because it's cheaper. Farming snakes isn't always economically viable, partly because the reptiles don't breed well in captivity.
The demand for snakeskin by the fashion industry has led to a burgeoning black market. This has led to over-harvesting, because the snakes are caught at a faster rate than they can reproduce. They are now in danger of going the same way as species like Siamese crocodiles that are now close to extinction after having had to meet the great demand for their leather. In addition, over-harvesting causes ecological imbalances. For example, rats become a problem in the snakes' traditional hunting grounds because there aren't enough snakes to keep their numbers in check.
Another disconcerting aspect of the snakeskin industry is the way that the reptiles are skinned. One method is to nail the snake's head to a tree, even though this usually doesn't kill the reptile. Another method involves first pumping its body full of water, which makes it expand. The next step is to make a few incisions in the skin and then to pull off the skin, preferably in one piece. This is a slow process, but the snake is usually alive and very conscious of what's happening. It will take the skinned reptile as much as three days before it dies.
Before you fork out for that designer python bag, think about what it really costs. Your purchase has a far bigger impact than you may realize. The snakes, the environment and you will be much better off if you go for faux instead.
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