London Zoo places handbag on display to raise poaching awareness

Though the handbag has been in place for several years, it recently shocked an unsuspecting visitor who then shared the spectacle on Twitter – going viral due to its hard-hitting message almost overnight.

The London Zoo’s curator of reptiles and amphibians, Ben Tapley, confirmed that the handbag was donated after being confiscated at a UK airport. Customs officers had hoped that it could serve as a memorable learning point for visitors to the site.

It’s an effective, in-your-face reminder that Siamese crocodiles, along with many other species, are being driven to the brink of extinction for no benefit beyond satisfying the desires of human aesthetics.

The use of crocodile and other reptile skins in fashion is nothing new. They became widely sought after during the 1950s and their use in handbags and clothing has continued well into the 21^st century.

But as consumers have become increasingly conscious of how their actions impact the planet and all its inhabitants, many brands have started to feel pressure from the public to remove these materials from their products.

Chanel, famous for its use of pelts in both handbags and apparel, only announced it would stop using the material in 2018. According to the fashion house, it became increasingly difficult to find suppliers that met its criteria of ethical standards.

Still, Hermes and Louis Vuitton are two major brands that have yet to discontinue the scaly pelts of snakes and crocodiles in their lines, which regularly lands them in hot water with environmental activists and animal rights campaigners.

Replacements for animal pelts and furs continue to improve, strengthening with it the argument for switching to more sustainable practices. It’s great to see zoos and wildlife centres joining in on that important fight.