The darker side of orchids
reared its ugly head recently with an intriguing article about the strange
and highly illegal items seized by UK border officials.
Eight live big cats, hippo
teeth, tortoises aplenty, walrus horns and a Rolls Royce upholstered with
alligator skin were among some of the smuggled items, according to the report.
The haul included 500kg of face
cream containing caviar extract and, check this out, bodybuilding supplements containing the rare
orchid Dendrobium. In fact, there was a noticeable a shift in the beauty and
fitness industries, where endangered species once used only in folk medicines
are being sold as such supplements and facial creams, for instance, in the
evolving market.
A Home Office spokesperson said
more items were confiscated in the year up to April 2013 than ever before.
I plan to read the small print
on future packaging on cosmetics with more care. Mind you, I can’t imagine
caviar face cream will be on special at Wilkinson’s.
By Pamela Kelt
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