By Tracy Horvath
Sustainability Studies Student
Did humans fail to manage the exploitation of wildlife and resources? In some cases, yes; but in others I’m not certain. Exploitation continues today, but with social media at everyone’s fingertips information today is easily accessible, as well as photos. By doing a Google search we are able to find story upon story about animals and their environments. This tool has made it easier for people to connect while also bringing more awareness. I don’t think the scientists view it this way as they are only reviewing devastation, but social media now has the power to make any topic go viral.
Luxury products from wildlife is an example: we can not only order luxury products like snake skin belts and purses, alligator shoes, and fur coats online but we can Google search the processes to obtain them. The book Animals in Peril– How Sustainable Use is Wiping Out the World’s Wildlife outlines the number of raw pelts the American fur industry imported between 1968 and 1970:
- 18,456 leopards
- 31,105 jaguars
- 349,680 ocelots
- 3,100 cheetahs
That’s 402,341 animals lives gone for the sake of their fur. The median household income in 1968 was $7,743 so purchasing a fur coat was definitely considered a luxury item. As I mentioned in a previous post, greed keeps coming to my mind.
Wildlife farms breed rare animals in captivity which many claim reduces pressure on wildlife population while also satisfying the commercial market. 50 million animals are currently killed each year in the name of fashion! The fur industry still claims the farms are a safe and humane way to obtain furs, but it isn’t. See Cruelty Uncaged: A Review of Fur Farming in North America for more on this topic.
I understand people need to make a living, but why not use their power for good and invent an alternative to fur? Twenty billion dollars is generated annually in the fashion industry, leaving lots of room for new ideas and fabrics. Let’s work together to combat the fur farms and the slaughter of animals by becoming fur free. The Humane Society of the United States has a list of all the retailers and designers who are fur free.
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