How to ethically pass on vintage ocelot fur?

[resisterpersister]

Helping my DM sort through some stuff. She has my grandmother's vintage ocelot coat. (1950s I think).

It's illegal to sell furs from big cats (quite rightly so), and my mum's not interested in making money out of it anyway. Neither of us wear fur or support the fur trade.

But she'd like to pass it on to someone who'd make good use out of it. Could we give it to a museum or something? Or some other org who'd make good use out of it?

WWYD?

(Neither of us want to wear it or give it to anyone who'd wear it as a fur).

Surely now it’s made its ethical to give it to someone who would use it? Less ethical for the car to have died for nothing.

A theatre wardrobe department or costume supplier might be interested in it.

A theatre wardrobe department or costume supplier might be interested in it.

That's a great idea. How would we go about doing this?

Ocelots aren’t big cats.

They are wild animals but they are small cats. Very cute.

Hope you find somewhere for it

Peta will probably take it..........

www.peta.org.uk/action/donate-fur-peta/

droppoint.org/peta

Ocelots aren’t big cats Oops, yes you're right!

Still illegal to sell though.

My mum really likes the idea of donating to a theatre. Does anyone know how we could find one who'd want it?

Is it really illegal to sell fur? I have seen lots, most recently this weekend in a second hand shop in West Bay of all places, Our local auction also rarely has a sale without several catalogued furs.
They surely are not all breaking the law, the police would have a field day with crime figures and such easy catches.

It's illegal to sell endangered species like ocelot, yes.

Phone your.local.theatre costume department if you have.one or is thereone.you.can.get.to easily. Maybe.a.theatre.class at a local.college or school.
.

DM article from last year:

Rare and illegal fur coats made from otters, wolves and ocelots are seized by police

Oh, apologies - that's from 2015 not last year

You could donate it to PETA or similar? Not sure theatres would want ocelot due to possible complaints.
Also, I think some wildlife rescue centres use them to make beds/feeding devices for young animals.

thats not vintage coats, so unless your dear GGM was buying hookey coats illegally imported from the far east then you are good to sell it off

Reenactors? There is a surprisingly big Living History scene in England. Kentwell Hall in Suffolk might be able to take it off your hands - they have re-enactments from all periods (altho best known for their Tudor events) - email Dawn at [email protected].

MIL had her grandmother’s fur coats (sorry I don’t know what kind, probably mink) made into teddy bears and each great grandchild got one.

I couldn’t decide whether this was nice or creepy.

Sorry not much help OP.

You could try local animal rescues. Old furs are supposed to be good for hand rearing kittens and probably other furry animals like puppies and foxes etc. A heat pad plus the fur simulates the mum and is comforting apparently.

Better yet you could contact your nearest zoo and ask if their education department would like to have it. We use these pieces to educate school children and other groups on the evils of the wildlife trade and it's role in endangering animals.

Are you sure it's from the 1950s? If it was made pre 1947 then different rules apply.

I recently sent a family heirloom tiger rug off for restoration. I know exactly who shot it, in the 1930s, but there's no paperwork or maker's mark on the rug. The restorer said he could see just by looking at it that it was pre-1947, and gave a healthy four-figure valuation for sale at auction. I'm not going to sell it, but it would be entirely legal to.

It would be worth taking it to your local auction house to see if they think it's pre or post 1947, and therefore the rules that apply and if they might be able to sell it for you.

PS if it could be sold, she could donate the money to a wildlife charity that works to prevent poaching. You'd achieve more that way than by disposing of it in many other ways.

Are you sure it's from the 1950s? If it was made pre 1947 then different rules apply.

I think it's unlikely. Much more likely second half of the 50s or early 60s.

I'd burn the wicked thing tbh. But a zoo could use it for education like a PP said, or maybe you have somewhere along the lines of this Border Force museum fairly local www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/visit/floor-plan/seized/ .

That is without a doubt the stupid answer ever, have you actually read that article you have linked?

If it’s a beautiful fur, let someone else enjoy it and wear it and provide the animal that was sacrificed with the true dignity it deserves. But protest against buying of any new fur. We can’t undo our history but we can make amends with our future

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