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Fake tiger skins and ivory appearing in India

10/03/2010 12:35:42

Hope for wildlife?

Wildlife Extra senses an opportunity here. If the market was flooded with fake ivory, tiger skins and other similar items, it would have several benefits for rhinos, elephants, tigers and the like.

Increasing the supply if these items would drive the price down.
A large quantity of fakes on the market would make many buyers think twice before buying.
It is likely that traders would fall out with each other over the fake goods, thus disrupting supply lines.

Perhaps someone should look seriously at the possibility of flooding the market with fake goods.

A recent seizure by authorities in India has brought to light the use of fake wildlife furs and other articles in the wildlife trade in India. Two 5.5 feet-long tusks and a jungle cat skin were recovered along with fake tiger and leopard skins.

"Fake articles are often used as alibi for wildlife trade," said Jose Louies, Assistant Manager, Wildlife Trust of India(WTI). "The traders in question are highly skilled in making fake tiger skins by painting on those of other animals including cattle. They often hide original skins in a consignment of fake skins to hoodwink authorities, as well as their customers."

"In the recent past, fake ivory has also surfaced in illegal wildlife markets of south India. This trend seems to have been fuelled by an increase in demand for ivory. The ‘replica ivory' is made of various materials and is sometimes very difficult to differentiate from original ones," Louies added.

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