Exotic Skins

Many people view reptiles like snakes, lizards, alligators and crocodiles with immediate caution and prejudice. This prejudgement is due, in part, to the presentation of reptiles in the media as vicious and slimy creatures that have been known to attack humans. It is somewhat understandable then that people are terrified by these creatures especially snakes, which have been known to swallow children. Lizards are regarded as slightly more appealing as people find them fascinating and interesting to stare at. Alligators and crocodiles attract many tourists and interest people from all over the world who visit places like Australia and Florida to marvel at the exotic creatures. Whatever your opinion on these animals the ways they are exploited by the exotic skin trade is beyond cruel. The pain they go through, the torment, the process of slaughter is enough to leave a chill down anyone's spine.

Millions of reptiles are bred or taken directly from their homes in the jungle to be killed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa, Australia and India where there are large exotic skin industries. The skins are then used to make unnecessary commodities like hand bags, shoes, jackets and belts. Such trivial items are not worth the suffering of what these animals go through. There are little or no animal welfare standards for these reptiles so the methods of slaughter can be as atrocious as the hunters see fit.

Snakes

Snakes can be skinned alive with machetes, scissors and knives, an agonizing process where the knife is inserted into their body to cut the skin off. These snakes may be decapitated first or bludgeoned to stop them moving around, making the killing easier. Snakes are sometimes nailed to trees by their heads and skinned alive. Once it is skinless, the snake will be thrown into a pile with other skinned snakes and these reptiles can take several days to die. The suffering these animals must go through when they have no skin cannot be imagined for it is bound to be the most painful way to die. Snakes, like other reptiles, have slow metabolisms so they experience pain even when their head has been detached from their bodies. Another harsh tactic of hunters use is to capture the snakes then starve them in order to loosen the skin, making it easier to cut off. If this starvation process does not loosen the skin enough hunters will insert a tube into the snakes throat then inflate it with water.

Lizards

Lizards are mostly captured from the wild using snares, a very painful method of capture that clamps the legs of the reptiles so they are unable to escape. Because of the extreme pain involved in snares some animals chew their own legs off to escape the torture. Unfortunately, even if they escape they will still suffer immensely and are most likely to die. Those that are successfully captured are cut open with knives, decapitated then skinned. Just like snakes, their slow metabolisms mean they will still be conscious even though their head may not be attached to the body. In some cases the lizard's head may be hanging on by a hinge or the lizard may have it's throat slit while it's skin is ripped off. Some of these lizards may die from suffocation (these are the 'lucky' one's) once they have had their throat cut. These animals are then thrown into a pile to die. The majority of these lizards are not stunned or knocked unconscious before the skinning process so they consciously experience being cut open.

Alligators & Crocodiles

Most alligators & crocodiles used for their skins are bred (some are taken from the wild to the reptile farms) in reptile farms where they are cramped into small containers with many other alligators & crocodiles. They receive a very poor diet and live in a filthy environment surrounded by excretion that is not properly cleaned. The method of killing these reptiles is to use a metal club, a hammer or baseball bat to smash their heads until they are motionless. Hunters sometimes use a chisel and hammer to bash into the back of the head to paralyze the animal, making the skinning process easier. Smashing the alligator or crocodile head does not always knock them unconscious so they have to experience the painful skinning. One other method of killing is to stab the alligator until it is dead or unable to move.

Designers Using Exotic Skins

Alexander McQueen, Armani, Bottega Veneta, BCBG Maxazria, Bloomingdales, Braccialini, Bruno Magli, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chloe, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Louboutin, Coach, Diego Dolcini, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbanna, Fendi, Gucci, Harrods, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Macy's, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Max Studio Shoes, Michael Kors, Miu Miu, Mulberry, Nordstrom, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavali, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Versace, Via Spiga, Yves Saint Laurent, Zagliani.

Celebrities That Wear Exotic Skins

Beyonce, Blake Lively, Britney Spears, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Celine Dion, Cindy Crawford, Eva Longoria, Gwen Stefani, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Katie Holmes, Kate Moss, Keira Knightley, Kelly Brook, Kim Catrall, Kylie Minogue, Lindsay Lohan, Madonna, Maria Carey, Mischa Barton, Nadine Coyle,
Naomi Campbell, Naomi Watts, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Stone, The Olsen Twins, Whitney Port, Victoria Beckham.

(CC) Image by One dead president

(CC) Image by Adam Jones

(CC) Image by Greg O'Beirne

(The above list is not a comprehensive list of all designers that use exotic skins).

(The above list is not a comprehensive list of all celebrities that wear/own exotic skins).

Conclusion

Although people do not view reptiles fondly, we can not use this dislike to justify buying anything made of exotic skins. Regardless of what the exotic skins industry may say, reptiles suffer immensely from the constraints of their cramped containers to the brutal skinning alive process. Please never buy exotic skins and always inform stores selling reptile skin products of the cruelty involved in the skins trade.