How do you feel about real fur?

[Sikhoten_Tiger]

Given my choice of character I have some rather strict opinions about it with regards to certain species ( ie. endangered fur isn't acceptable under any circumstances ). Looking onto other things I have more mixed views on things but end up coming to the same conclusion. While I think it's possible to hunt and kill responsibly and without waste I honestly think we'll have to stop hunting entirely and build up the legal practice of hunting again before we really have a handle on how to responsibly manage these sorts of things properly, just look at how our fisheries have been managed due to the pervasive need of the present industry.

For both hunting and fishing I really think there should be a full stop almost across the board for 5-10 years depending on the species and how it's doing when they can do some detailed research on the population when it's not under pressure. Basically give the natural ecosystems some time to repair itself in whatever way it sees fit before deciding just how much hunting is appropriate instead of just continuing to hunt x amount because it was ok last year. Besides researching the ecosystem some effort should be put into working out how a legal and widely accepted furs industry for one species would affect others. As an example if they made it legal to start hunting zebras and making fur clothing of them this would almost certainly increase demand for tiger pelts which may not be legal ( and currently certainly aren't ).

After this is done and it's found that some species can sustain a certain amount of hunting without any serious knock-on effects on other species of concern I'd be fine with hunting but right now we're just not informed enough or organized enough to handle this correctly worldwide.

Likewise I think TCM( Traditional Chinese Medicine ) should be banned for a few years until they can get a handle on the all-too-sizable poaching problem the darker side of that practice spawns. I know it's draconian to do so but I don't see that being dealt with on their own time before at least a few key species become extinct in the wild.

[Wereman]

Interesting view point on Chinese Medicine, there is some partial truth in that. You can always sell a rare (and illegal) product and make the consumer believe it will be to their benefit (that's usually what "entrepreneurs" do).