Snakes Skin Industries In West Java

Workers are gathering to relax and chat with each other after working time at one of the snake collector locations in Kertasura village, Cirebon, West Java, on May 31, 2024. Kertasura is a village known as the largest supplier of snake skin commodities in Indonesia, both for fulfilling the domestic and export markets with a production capacity of hundreds of pieces of snake skin a day, which are later used as raw material to make fashion products such as wallets, bags, shoes, and clothing. They are getting these snakes from snake seekers in the wild and valuing them at IDR 6,000 (US$ 0.37) - IDR 10,000 (US$ 0.62) per kilogram. However, amidst the shine of this business, there are pros and cons among the wider community. The high rate of snake skin production is leading to massive snake hunting, which is sparking concerns from a number of groups about the preservation of snakes in the wild, especially environmental activists, considering that snakes are one of the top animals in the food chain cycle. The loss of snakes can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem in an area. But on the other hand, the existence of the snake skin supply industry is opening up employment opportunities for the local community. (Photo by Aditya Irawan/NurPhoto via Getty Images)