Smooth Debate on Vicuna at Ivory-Dominated Meeting
6/13/97
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Headline: Smooth Debate on Vicuna at Ivory-Dominated Meeting
Source: Reuters
Date: 6/13/97
Byline: Cris Chinaka
Copyright 1997 by Reuters
HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuter) - Fashion designers will be
allowed to continue using the world's finest thread, from the
vicuna, but environmental groups want to curb poaching of the
animal.
Vicuna -- prized by many designers as the thinnest and
smoothest natural fiber -- has been debated quietly and calmly
at a conference on endangered species otherwise dominated by
heated argument over ivory.
Wool from the vicuna, a member of the llama family which is
found in South America, is many times thinner than human hair
and a skirt made from it can cost upward of $2,000.
``We have no problem in the current trade...but we are
anxious to ensure that any expansion will also be done in a
sustainable way,'' said Arthur Lindley, of Britain's Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
Up until 1994 wild vicunas in Peru and Chile were trapped,
sheared and released back into the bush. The wool had to be
woven and clearly marked before export.
But the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) then gave Peru permission to export raw wool
with no identifying marks.
``Since then, there is considerable evidence of increased
poaching because they (poachers) are able to trade it
illegally,'' Lindley said.
Farmers who lived off the vicuna had an interest in ensuring
sustainable stocks, but poachers were more likely to kill the
animals before shearing them.
Argentina, Bolivia and Peru have proposed that the CITES
meeting in Harare allow expanded trade to include not just raw
and woven wool but also handicrafts.
``Our concern is over the difficulty of control in trading
raw wool. Our most serious concern is that we should cut out
illegal trade,'' Lindley said.
``But in principle we believe trade in live animals is a
sustainable and very good business. The animals are sheared live
and the mortality level is very low indeed.''
Peru's vicuna population is estimated at 75,000. Argentina,
counts around 32,000, Bolivia 33,000 and Chile 19,000.
The four exporting countries say they are open to
suggestions on controlling the trade, but insist they already
have tight anti-poaching measures in place.
The proposals will be put to the vote at the CITES
conference next week.