DOCSLIB.ORG

A New Look at the Himalayan Fur Trade

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A New Look at the Himalayan Fur Trade ORYX VOL 27 NO 4 OCTOBER 1993 A new look at the Himalayan fur trade Joel T. Heinen and Blair Leisure In late December 1991 and January 1992 the authors surveyed tourist shops sell- ing fur and other animal products in Kathmandu, Nepal. Comparing the results with a study conducted 3 years earlier showed that the number of shops had in- creased, but indirect evidence suggested that the demand for their products may have decreased. There was still substantial trade in furs, most of which appeared to have come from India, including furs from species that are protected in India and Nepal. While both Nepali and Indian conservation legislation are adequate to con- trol the illegal wildlife trade, there are problems in implementation: co-ordination between the two countries, as well as greater law enforcement within each country, are needed. Introduction Enforcement of conservation legislation Since the 1970s Nepal and India have been In spite of measurable successes with regard considered to be among the most progressive to wildlife conservation, there are several ob- of developing nations with regard to legis- stacles to effective law enforcement in both lation and implementation of wildlife conser- countries. In Nepal the Department of vation programmes. The Wildlife (Protection) National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of India was passed in 1972 (Saharia and (DNPWC), which is the designated manage- Pillai, 1982; Majupuria 1990a), and Nepal's ment authority of CITES (Fitzgerald, 1989; National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act Favre, 1991), is administratively separate from was passed in 1973 (HMG, 1977). Both have the Department of Forestry, but both depart- schedules of fully protected species, including ments are within the Ministry of Forests and many large mammalian carnivores and other the Environment. The DNPWC has jurisdic- fur-bearers (Upreti, 1989; Majupuria, 1990b) tion over wildlife conservation law enforce- and both have extensive protected area sys- ment only within parks and reserves, while tems (Seshadri, 1986; IUCN, 1990a; Majupuria, the Department of Forestry is responsible for 1990a, Heinen and Kattel, 1992a), with over 3 enforcing wildlife legislation in the rest of the per cent of the land area of India in several country (HMG, 1977; Heinen and Kattel, hundred reserves, and over 10 per cent of the 1992a, b). In India the Wildlife (Protection) land area of Nepal in 14 reserves. Act, 1972 does not apply in the State of Jammu India and Nepal are also Parties to CITES and Kashmir (Saharia, 1982). This state, (Convention on International Trade in renowned for its fine handicrafts, is the tra- Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ditional centre of the Himalayan fur trade; (Fitzgerald, 1989) and have active law enforce- many Kashmiri people are dependent on the ment programmes with regard to violations of trade for at least some income (Kapur, 1980; their national law and international agree- Pillai, 1982; Cochrane, 1986). The Jammu and ments related to conservation (Thakur, 1990; Kashmir Wildlife Act of 1979 is very similar to Heinen and Kattel, 1992a, b). There is evidence the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act but the from both countries that populations of many national government has no power to enforce endangered species have increased in many its laws within Jammu and Kashmir. protected areas (e.g. Seshadri, 1986). Furthermore, the State of Jammu and Kashmir 231 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.40.139, on 29 Sep 2021 at 18:16:58, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300028143 J. T. HEINEN AND B. LEISURE has not adopted the subsequent amendments cally. Numbers of tourists to Jammu and to the national act, several of which greatly re- Kashmir have plummeted since the civil war stricted or proscribed trade in animal products started in 1989. The pro-democracy movement from the country (Nichols et a\., 1991) in Nepal limited tourist entries for 1 year, and These problems in implementing conser- the new Nepali Congress government has vation legislation have many ramifications, been confronted with a host of economic prob- one of which is the sale of furs and fur prod- lems, leading to several devaluations of the ucts to tourists. International tourism has been Nepali Rupee (see Bhatta, 1987; Shah, 1988; an important industry in Jammu and Kashmir Bista, 1991). Despite these concerns, however, in India and in the Kathmandu Valley and tourist entries into Nepal did not decline ap- several outlying areas (e.g. Pokhara) in Nepal. preciably, and are again rising (HMG, 1991). The infrastructure and policies supporting During this period there were several publi- tourism have been in place much longer in cized cases of tourists who were caught in Jammu and Kashmir than in Nepal (Bamzai, their own or other countries with furs of en- 1973; Kapur, 1980), but since the early 1970s dangered species bought in Nepal (B.N. the latter has become a major tourist destina- Upreti [Former Director General, DNPWC] tion (Richter, 1989). Today tourism is Nepal's pers. comm; U. R. Sharma [Assistant Director largest industry measured in gross foreign ex- General, DNPWC] pers. comm.). Barnes's change (HMG, 1991) and the largest employer work, cited in several popular articles, also of Nepali people after agriculture (Heinen and created an awareness of the problem in India Kattel, 1992a). (L. J. Barnes, 1992, pers. comm.). Furthermore, many recent tourist guides to Nepal and India have sections on conservation (e.g. Israel and The 1988 survey Sinclair, 1989), and there are now signs in the Central Immigration Office in Thamel, Nepal, In late 1988 Barnes (1989a,b, 1990) did a sur- warning tourists not to buy furs. vey of fur-selling shops in the tourist area of Our survey of the Himalayan fur trade in Kathmandu. He and a female colleague posed Kathmandu was designed to discover how as American tourists. He counted the number these interacting factors may have influenced of coats made from the fur of four species: sales in the 3 years since Barnes's work. All leopard cat, common leopard, clouded leop- other factors being equal, we would have ex- ard and snow leopard and estimated the total pected more fur trade in Kathmandu given number of such shops. He found 50 shops that that there were more tourists. Because tourist sold furs, all run by Indian nationals from entries into Kashmir have declined precipi- Kashmir. Many coats were made from furs of tously, we may also have expected more endangered species, protected in either or Kashmiri-run tourist shops to be operating in both India and Nepal, and listed on Appendix Kathmandu. However, if tourists had become I of CITES (which prohibits commercial inter- more aware of trade controls and if enforce- national trade). Barnes noted that the coats ment in other countries had increased, this were readily available, frequently hanging in would have the opposite effect, as would shop windows in blatant violation of Nepali changes in the fashion industry brought about and international law; there was obviously no by anti-fur campaigns. enforcement of fur trade controls. Methods From 1989 to 1991 and the present study One of us (J.T.H.) started on 20 December 1991, by walking through the tourist areas of In the 3 years since Barnes's work, the political Kathmandu, especially in Durbar Marg (close and economic situation in the State of Jammu to the Royal Palace, offices of airlines, travel and Kashmir and Nepal have changed drasti- agents and five-star hotels) and Thamel (sev- 232 ORYX VOL 27 NO 4 OCTOBER 1993 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.40.139, on 29 Sep 2021 at 18:16:58, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300028143 HIMALAYAN FUR TRADE eral blocks of small streets, to the west of the said that they didn't believe we were Royal Palace, with many cheaper guest houses interested in buying fur when we began such and tourist shops). J.T.H. counted the number lines of questioning. We refrained from direct of shops selling furs and noted their locations. questioning after the second day of the sur- In most cases, there was no need to enter the vey, because our main goal was to obtain a shops because most of them had coats or other general idea of the extent of the trade. fur products displayed in windows. We surveyed the Durbar Marg area on 22 Posing as American tourists, we started the December 1991, several five- and four-star ho- extended survey on 22 December. We entered tels distant from the town centre on 23 each shop together, expressing interest in the December, part of Thamel of 24 December, purchase of furs. While B.L. tried on fur coats and the rest of Thamel on 14 January 1992. We and engaged the shopkeepers' attention, J.T.H. also visited all three-star hotels in Kathmandu (using a small pocket notebook) made inven- separately in mid-January, and J.T.H. visited tories of the coats on display, recording sepa- the tourist area of Lakeside, Pokhara, in the rately those made from cats, wolf, and large mountains of western Nepal in early January. Indian civet. Wild cat species are more vulner- We believe we covered the extent of the fur able, for several reasons, than other fur-bear- trade for tourists in Nepal as far as the num- ers (Nichol, 1987; Oldfield, 1989; Kitchener, ber of businesses engaged in the activity is 1991) and the spotted cats are relatively easy concerned.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Fur Trade of the Western Great Lakes Region
    THE FUR TRADE OF THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES REGION IN 1685 THE BARON DE LAHONTAN wrote that ^^ Canada subsists only upon the Trade of Skins or Furrs, three fourths of which come from the People that live round the great Lakes." ^ Long before tbe little French colony on tbe St. Lawrence outgrew Its swaddling clothes the savage tribes­ men came in their canoes, bringing with them the wealth of the western forests. In the Ohio Valley the British fur trade rested upon the efficacy of the pack horse; by the use of canoes on the lakes and river systems of the West, the red men delivered to New France furs from a country unknown to the French. At first the furs were brought to Quebec; then Montreal was founded, and each summer a great fair was held there by order of the king over the water. Great flotillas of western Indians arrived to trade with the Europeans. A similar fair was held at Three Rivers for the northern Algonquian tribes. The inhabitants of Canada constantly were forming new settlements on the river above Montreal, says Parkman, ... in order to intercept the Indians on their way down, drench them with brandy, and get their furs from them at low rates in ad­ vance of the fair. Such settlements were forbidden, but not pre­ vented. The audacious " squatter" defied edict and ordinance and the fury of drunken savages, and boldly planted himself in the path of the descending trade. Nor is this a matter of surprise; for he was usually the secret agent of some high colonial officer.^ Upon arrival in Montreal, all furs were sold to the com­ pany or group of men holding the monopoly of the fur trade from the king of France.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Challenge to the Fur Trade
    VOLUME XXXV NO. 2 SPRING 2015 Enter the Americans: A New Challenge to the Fur Trade hile the American entry into the the fur trade in what was to become W fur trade market west of the the Louisiana Purchase (1803) Mississippi River was rather late in its continued unabated to supply the history, it was never the less significant demand in Europe. in many ways. Preceding them by over Trade Goods two hundred years were the Dutch, th Spanish, French, and British trappers From the 13 century onwards the who had several generations of dealing colored glass trade beads found with the Native Americans in the throughout the world were northeast, the Great Lakes region, the manufactured in Venice, Italy. By the upper Missouri area, and the Pacific 1600s glass beads were also being Northwest, as well as the southwestern created in Bohemia (Czech Republic), part of what became the United States. Holland, France, England, and Sweden. The North American continent (and For a short while there was even a to a lesser extent South America) had bead-making industry at Jamestown, long been a source of raw materials for the various, Virginia. Many styles and colors were manufactured, ever-changing, empires of Europe whose resources with different tribes valuing different colors and in timber and furs had been depleted. Looking west designs and trading accordingly. they found a land rich in the many products they Other trade goods made of metal created a needed: timber for ship-building, pelts for the substantial industry throughout Europe, supplying fashions of the moment, and hides for the leather the growing Indian demand for improved substitutes belts that turned the factory wheels of industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Adventures on the American Frontier Pioneer Traders Part Three Manuel Lisa on the Missouri River
    Adventures on the American Frontier Pioneer Traders Part Three Manuel Lisa on the Missouri River A Royal Fireworks Production Royal Fireworks Press Unionville, New York George Croghan, Fur Trader Trader Kinzie and the Battle of Fort Dearborn Joe LaBarge, Missouri River Boy The Bent Brothers on the Santa Fe Trail OtherAbe books Lincoln, in thisTrader series: This book features QR codes that link to audio of the book being narrated so that readers can follow along. Copyright © 2020, Royal Fireworks Online Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Royal Fireworks Press P.O. Box 399 41 First Avenue Unionville, NY 10988-0399 (845) 726-4444 fax: (845) 726-3824 email: [email protected] website: rfwp.com ISBN: 978-0-89824-783-1 Printed and bound in Unionville, New York, on acid-free paper using vegetable-based inks at the Royal Fireworks facility. Publisher: Dr. T.M. Kemnitz Editor: Jennifer Ault Book and cover designer: Christopher Tice Audio and narration: Christopher Tice 10Jun20 Traders bringing furs by boat to New Orleans (whatever it looked like in 1760, which is probably not much like now at all) During the French and Indian War, the fighting to the north and east didn’t much bother the people in the old French city of New Orleans. Their fur traders were bringing rich catches down the Mississippi River, and that hadn’t stopped with the war. 1 Because the fur trade was so good for the traders coming down the Missouri River into the Mississippi River, the traders decided to open a new trading post farther north, near the place where the Missouri River flows into the Mississippi.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fur Trade Era, 1770S–1849
    Great Bear Rainforest The Fur Trade Era, 1770s–1849 The Fur Trade Era, 1770s–1849 The lives of First Nations people were irrevocably changed from the time the first European visitors came to their shores. The arrival of Captain Cook heralded the era of the fur trade and the first wave of newcomers into the future British Columbia who came from two directions in search of lucrative pelts. First came the sailors by ship across the Pacific Ocean in pursuit of sea otter, then soon after came the fort builders who crossed the continent from the east by canoe. These traders initiated an intense period of interaction between First Nations and European newcomers, lasting from the 1780s to the formation of the colony of Vancouver Island in 1849, when the business of trade was the main concern of both parties. During this era, the newcomers depended on First Nations communities not only for furs, but also for services such as guiding, carrying mail, and most importantly, supplying much of the food they required for daily survival. First Nations communities incorporated the newcomers into the fabric of their lives, utilizing the new trade goods in ways which enhanced their societies, such as using iron to replace stone axes and guns to augment the bow and arrow. These enhancements, however, came at a terrible cost, for while the fur traders brought iron and guns, they also brought unknown diseases which resulted in massive depopulation of First Nations communities. European Expansion The northwest region of North America was one of the last areas of the globe to feel the advance of European colonialism.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Fur and Fins: Quantifying Fur Trade Era Fish Harvest to Assess Changes in Contemporary Lake Whitefish (Coregonus Clupeaformis) Production at Lac La Biche, Alberta
    Journal of Ecological Anthropology Volume 16 Issue 1 Volume 16, Issue 1 (2013) Article 1 1-1-2013 Of Fur and Fins: Quantifying Fur Trade Era Fish Harvest to Assess Changes in Contemporary Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) Production at Lac La Biche, Alberta Andrea M. McGregor Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jea Recommended Citation McGregor, Andrea M.. "Of Fur and Fins: Quantifying Fur Trade Era Fish Harvest to Assess Changes in Contemporary Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) Production at Lac La Biche, Alberta." Journal of Ecological Anthropology 16, no. 1 (2013): 5-26. Available at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jea/vol16/iss1/1 This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Ecological Anthropology by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. McGregor / Historic Fish Harvest Changes ARTICLES Of Fur and Fins: Quantifying Fur Trade Era Fish Harvest to Assess Changes in Contemporary Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) Production at Lac La Biche, Alberta Andrea M. McGregor ABSTracT The history of fisheries exploitation in Canada has significant ties to the development and westward expansion of the fur trade. Understanding the scale and nature of this relationship is important when assessing the develop- mental or evolutionary history of a system. This study uses estimates of human population size and subsistence lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) consumption to estimate annual fish harvest at Lac la Biche, Alberta (54o52'N, 112o05'W) during the fur trade era and to assess the magnitude and potential influence of historic harvest on contemporary harvest potential.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reality of Commercial Rabbit Farming in Europe
    The reality of commercial rabbit farming in Europe Coalition to abolish the fur trade www.caft.org.uk www.rabbitfur.info mail:[email protected] he rabbit fur trade is the fastest growing section of the industry, yet little is publicly Tknown about it. Many myths have been perpetuated about this industry, thus allowing the fur trade to increase the popularity of rabbit fur. Because of this, the Coalition to abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) planned an investigation to conduct research into the industry and obtain video and photographic evidence. CAFT investigators travelled to four European countries – Denmark, Spain, Italy and France – to investigate all aspects of the trade. It was vital to look into the rabbit farming industry as a whole: Italy including farms which breed rabbits specifically for the fur During the 1970s, the rabbit farming industry in Italy was very trade, farms for rabbit meat production, slaughterhouses, much a cottage industry. Due to the demand for rabbit meat, dressing companies, and companies which explore the genetic the industry grew steadily to reach almost twice its size in breeding of rabbits for both fur and meat. 2003 (222,000 TEC); Italy consumes most of the meat it produces and imports are low. The greatest concentration and the largest farms are found in northern Italy (Veneto, SIZE OF INDUSTRY Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte regions) where farms are large and intensive (500-1,000 does). Production is, There appears to be no reliable figures for commercial rabbit nonetheless, substantial throughout the country: In central and farming today; the last figures are from 2003 when the southern Italy there are a large number of medium and small 5 European Food Safety Authority commissioned a scientific sized farms (100-500 does).
    [Show full text]
  • Fur Trade in the UK
    House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Fur trade in the UK Seventh Report of Session 2017–19 Report, together with formal minutes relating to the report Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 18 July 2018 HC 823 Published on 22 July 2018 by authority of the House of Commons The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and associated public bodies. Current membership Neil Parish MP (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton) (Chair) Alan Brown MP (Scottish National Party, Kilmarnock and Loudoun) Paul Flynn MP (Labour, Newport West) John Grogan MP (Labour, Keighley) Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Conservative, Sleaford and North Hykeham) Kerry McCarthy MP (Labour, Bristol East) Sandy Martin MP (Labour, Ipswich) Mrs Sheryll Murray MP (Conservative, South East Cornwall) David Simpson MP (Democratic Unionist Party, Upper Bann) Angela Smith MP (Labour, Penistone and Stocksbridge) Julian Sturdy MP (Conservative, York Outer) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications Committee reports are published on the Committee’s website at www.parliament.uk/efracom and in print by Order of the House. Evidence relating to this report is published on the inquiry publications page of the Committee’s website. Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Eliot Barrass (Clerk), Sian Woodward (Clerk), Daniel Schlappa (Second Clerk), Xameerah Malik (Senior Committee Specialist), Andy French (Committee Specialist), Anwen Rees (Committee Specialist), James Hockaday (Senior Committee Assistant), Ian Blair (Committee Assistant) and Annabel Russell (Committee Assistant).
    [Show full text]
  • The Russian Fur Trade and Industry
    Julia Gibson Russia and the Environment Professors McKinney and Welsh Final Paper May 9th 2006 The Russian Fur Trade and Industry People have utilized the skin and fur of animals to keep warm since the prehistoric era of human history. As human beings left the equatorial regions where Homo sapiens evolved, the severity of colder climates forced them to protect their uncovered bodies with the pelts of regional animals that were better adapted to the harsh environment. The exploitation of pelts probably arose as a result of the invention of simple tools, which enabled people to separate the meat for cooking and the fur for wearing. As human civilization advanced, those human societies dependant on fur for warmth also began to utilize animal fur and skin as a luxury item. Communities like the ancient state of Rus flourished and grew in importance in cross continental trade due to the natural abundance of fur-bearing animals in their territories. Despite the growing environmental damage and the suffering of animals harvested for fur, the fur trade and industry gained increasing importance over the centuries. Throughout the history of Russia (including the Soviet Union), the fur trade has enabled the Russian state to pursue the doctrine of Moscow as the third Rome and bolster their economy, while simultaneously and systematically distancing the Russian people from the environment and severing their connection with the natural world. Even before the fur trade became a crucial component of the Russian economy, the practice of exchanging furs played an integral part in traditional Russian culture. The 1 use of pelts in ancient Shamanistic rituals established fur as a semi-spiritual commodity.
    [Show full text]
  • AN ABSTRACT of the THESIS of Jennifer E. Jameson for the Degree
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Jennifer E. Jameson for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Anthropology , Design and Human Environment , and Anthropology presented on December 5, 2007 . Title: Iroquois of the Pacific Northwest Fur Trade: Their Archaeology and History Abstract approved: ___________________________ David R. Brauner During the early 19 th Century, the fur trade brought many Iroquois to the Pacific Northwest as working primarily as voyageurs for the North West Company. When the North West Company merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Iroquois employees merged as well. After retirement, some settled in the Willamette Valley and surrounding areas. These Iroquois have been an underrepresented group in the Pacific Northwest history. When archaeological investigations are completed, the Iroquois are overlooked as possible occupants. The purpose of this research is to reconstruct the history of the Iroquois and to create an archaeological description of what their material culture might look like in the Pacific Northwest. Theories involving ethnicity in archaeology, along with documentary evidence and archaeological data, were used to complete body of knowledge that brings the Pacific Northwest Iroquois story to light, and create a catalog of the ethnic markers for archaeologists to look for. ©Copyright by Jennifer E. Jameson December 5, 2007 All Rights Reserved Iroquois of the Pacific Northwest Fur Trade: Their Archaeology and History by Jennifer E. Jameson A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Presented December 5, 2007 Commencement June 2008 Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies thesis of Jennifer E.
    [Show full text]
  • The Infrastructure of the Fur Trade in the American Southwest, 1821-1840
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 5-2014 The Infrastructure of the Fur Trade in the American Southwest, 1821-1840 Hadyn B. Call Utah State Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Part of the American Studies Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Call, Hadyn B., "The Infrastructure of the Fur Trade in the American Southwest, 1821-1840" (2014). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 367. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/367 This Creative Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FUR TRADE IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, 1821-1840 by Hadyn B. Call A plan-B thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in History Approved: _________________________ _________________________ John D. Barton David R. Lewis Major Professor Committee Member _________________________ Robert Parson Committee Member UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, UT 2014 2 THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FUR TRADE IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, 1821-1840 Introduction Careful study of the published history of the American Southwest reveals that historians have not provided a comprehensive analysis of the infrastructure that enabled the fur trade in the American Southwest to thrive. Analysis of that infrastructure unveils an amalgamation of blended characteristics derived from the French, British, and American systems along with characteristics derived from the Southwest’s own evolutionary development over time and space.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of Dog and Cat Fur Trade in China
    REPORT OF DOG AND CAT Action • Compassion • Together FUR TRADE IN CHINA 1 22 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Purpose of Report 6 1.2 Objectives 7 1.3 Methodology 7 2. INVESTIGATIONS: THE DOG AND CAT FUR TRADE IN CHINA 8 2.1 Source of animals 9 2.2 Financial elements of dog and cat sales 12 2.3 Quantity and availability 14 2.4 Transportation 16 3. PRODUCTION 19 3.1 Slaughter 19 3.2 Products and sales 20 3.3 Labeling 22 3.4. Export 25 4. CONCLUSION 27 ACTAsia thanks Dogs Trust for their support in the production of this report Copyright © ACTAsia for Animals 2017 A dog is suspended by its tail, to be slaughtered for its fur with a bludgeon and knife. 2 3 ACTAsia’s Cruelty Free Fashion Show in Beijing. 44 I. INTRODUCTION China is the largest fur trading and processing country in the world, producing 75% of all furs sourced globally1. The demand for fur products is growing with the rise in economic standards and online marketing by fur retailers. Traditionally adults were the main consumers of fur products, but the market has more recently expanded into children’s fashions. Unlike in western countries, dogs and cats are openly used as a source for fur products in China. The animal welfare implications of the fur trade are significant, and of growing concern as the industry expands. Most Chinese fur farms have been established in the last 10 to 15 years, and include dog, cat, fox, mink, raccoon dog and rabbit.
    [Show full text]
  • Grand Portage As a Trading Post: Patterns of Trade at "The Great Carrying Place"
    Grand Portage as a Trading Post: Patterns of Trade at “the Great Carrying Place” By Bruce M. White Turnstone Historical Research St. Paul, Minnesota Grand Portage National Monument National Park Service Grand Marais, Minnesota September 2005 On the cover: a page from an agreement signed between the North West Company and the Grand Portage area Ojibwe band leaders in 1798. This agreement is the first known documentary source in which multiple Grand Portage band leaders are identified. It is the earliest known documentation that they agreed to anything with a non-Native entity. Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ii List of Illustrations ............................................................................................................. ii Preface ............................................................................................................................... iii Introduction .........................................................................................................................1 Trade Patterns .....................................................................................................................5 The Invention of the Great Lakes Fur Trade ....................................................................13 Ceremonies of Trade, Trade of Ceremonies .....................................................................19 The Wintering Trade .........................................................................................................27
    [Show full text]