This slide show contains images of dead animal hides being illegally sold
around the country of Ecuador that I have just happened to come across in
my travels. I was not even looking for evidence of illegal wildlife items
for sale! All of these skins in this slide show are from endangered wild feline
species, such as ocelot and margays. It is against Ecuador and International
laws to kill endangered species, sell live endangered species, or sell the
dead body parts of any endangered species.
Despite these laws to protect wildlife, I continually run across these cat
skins for sale all over the country of Ecuador because the government simply
does not have the resources to actively enforce their national or international
laws regarding the wildlife trade. I have found skins for sale openly in many
different types of venues: booths in outdoor craft markets, gas stations,
mini-marts, on the road side, and even in upscale shops in the Ecuadorian
capital, Quito.
Something must be done to put a stop to this senseless killing of rare and
beautiful wildlife before they are gone forever. Since the Ecuadorian government
cannot enforce their laws to protect wildlife, we wish to expose this travesty
to the rest of the world. People must speak up for the animals who cannot
speak for themselves. Through the Touch The Jungle Wildlife Rescue Center
we rescue injured or orphaned animals to rehabilitate them so that they can
be returned to the wild and continue to contribute to their species survival.
Touch The Jungle conducts conservation education programs about wildlife and
habitats to teach the local people to preserve their wildlife instead of killing
it to make a knife handle or fancy chair seat cover.
Tracy Wilson,
TTJ Project Director
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