http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/16/world/africa/leopards-shembe-south-africa/index.html

so members of this church pretty much have to wear a real leopard skin on their body. a conservationist went to the church and saw thousands of real leopard skins.

the conservationists are turning to china to provide a fake alternative, but so far the church has rejected the one alternative that was presented to the church leaders.

the leopard is already an endangered species, and this might make it extinct (it is also targeted by those who use it for traditional medicine, for selling its meat as exotic bush-meat, and by farmers to protect their livestock)

Quote :

"For the Shembe, leopards are seen as a symbol of pride, beauty and wealth."

Quote :

"The skins are viewed as essential attire for church elders who wear them around their necks during traditional ceremonies."

yeah, don't they f'ing realize that if they keep buying leopard skins (the church is growing fast) from poachers, that there would be no more leopards one day?

they are being sold for $440 each in the church... WTF.. when did Africans dancing in the sand get so much money???

9/17/2012 9:58:25 AM

We don't have woolly mammoths in North America anymore. I don't understand why anyone thinks that even a tiny fraction of the megafauna in Africa would have a prayer's chance at surviving a modern marketplace. If the people there get wealthy the animals die. That's how it works.

9/17/2012 10:09:05 AM

TIL wooly mammoths were killed off by rich people who wanted to wear their skins.

9/17/2012 11:13:39 AM

Marjoe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-O9aNl2Xrk

9/17/2012 11:29:27 AM

Introduce AIDs or Ebola Zaire to the tribe and let the problem fix itself.

9/17/2012 11:53:01 AM