Exotic leather sector in South Africa is undergoing rapid change

The exotic leather sector in South Africa is undergoing rapid change because of globalisation, improving global delivery times, a global speed-up of the rate of change in the business environment, improved market responses, highly competitive cheaper leathers and substitute pleather market (more market responsive production cycle)

Pink ostrich leather bicycle seat

Mountain bikers have now an opportunity to pimp up the mountain bikes with pink ostrich leather bicycle seats or saddles. SELLE AN-ATOMICA has introduced this very neat and interesting looking Ostrich Leather Saddles for all biking enthusiasts. Introduced as limited edition Ostrich Leather Saddle, it is available in many different colours from Neon Green to Indian Pink.

Cyclists planning to use it in the mountains and mud, might have to add some waterproofing application to the seat. According to Selle An-Atomica it is a “slot for comfortable and healthy riding and also are very sexy...?”

With a Indian pink bicycle saddle, cyclists sure will easily be spotted and tracked in event like the 24 hrs night races such as Transbaviaans in South Africa ;)

Ostrich leather artist from Mossel Bay, South Africa (art and craft manufacturing)

Situated in Mossel Bay, South Africa, Leather Artist, an art and craft manufacturing came to life in September 2009, by Jaco Steyl

Designing and artwork have always been a passion of mine. From the young age of 5 years my parents noticed my talent and have supported my efforts since then. Art brings inner peace and happiness, which I believe are the building blocks for a healthy relationship with yourself and others.

Not surprisingly, art became my eventual tertiary field of study. I completed my national diploma in textile design at Port
Elizabeth University of Technology and have been doing part-time creative work
since then.


I realised that most suppliers of ostrich leather offer product ranges consisting of
mainly clothing, shoes and fashion accessories. Decorative household items and
genuine artwork are hard to find. Leather Artist was created to offer that something
special and unique.

Ostrich leather is known as exotic leather with a beautiful texture. It is this unique
texture that brings the artwork to life. I have tried to capture the spirit of Africa with
themes such as African Children, Mother and Child and African Sunsets, painted on
ostrich leg skin leather. I am currently working on a range of African wildlife but am
not restricted to African themes. Floral paintings, for example the Strelitzia, also
work well on the leg skin.

I also manufacture products such as coasters and pot stands from ostrich leg skin and
serviette rings made from either leg or body skins. All raw materials are sourced
locally and all work is done by me, Jaco Steyl, to ensure the highest possible quality.
It is my mission to build a business that will enable me to employ people from local,
previously disadvantaged communities to help them develop and refine their skills. I
will continue to dream and design as it is a special talent I have been blessed with and
am grateful for.

Pimping Land Rover with an ostrich leather gaiter

Ostrich leather gaiter for Land Rover. Developed together with Ostrich Emporium South Africa

Giving Land Rover that stylish exotic leather finish. Ostrich leather is suited for the interior of vehicles and can with stand much wear due to the quill protection.

Ostrich leather finished in waxy coating for water proofing and UV protection.

South Africa heat wave killing ostriches

According to news24.com. " In Oudtshoorn - At least 250 ostriches have died from heat exposure in temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius in Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo, Beeld reported on Thursday.  Dr Adriaan Olivier, head veterinarian and manager of research and development at the Klein Karoo International Farms, said 100 birds had died on one farm and other farms had suffered losses of between 30 and 70 birds. Anton Kruger, CEO of the SA Ostrich Chamber of Commerce, said it was usually birds of between four and five months old that were vulnerable to heat exposure. Ostriches of this age cost about R2 300 per bird."

Does this mean more skins available on the market ???






"Because of the heat, the meat started to rot immediately. The fat under the skin started to cook, which damaged the skin," said Kruger.

The Eastern Cape Herald reported that the number of ostriches that died from this heat wave was over 1000 (http://www.theherald.co.za/article.aspx?id=530164).

The Garden Route in South Africa which produces 80% of the worlds ostrich products is under tremendous water shortage stress and this may have implications to the market over the next 12 months.

Eat or be eaten

Kampala – An angry Ugandan minister has stirred up murky waters by urging villagers on the shores of Lake Victoria to hunt and eat crocodiles that have been munching up locals.

Villagers in the Bugiri and Mayuge districts in eastern Uganda have for years complained that crocodiles attack fishermen and people fetching water or firewood around the shores of Africa’s largest lake.

Although no official statistics are available, it is believed the cold-blooded predators devour dozens of Ugandans each year. Press reports said that in the past two weeks alone, crocodiles have eaten six people in the Mayuge district.

Deputy agriculture minister Aggrey Bagiire, who represents one of the constituencies in the area, has been urging people to strike back.

Bagiire said: I’ve seen the remains of someone who had been killed by these crocodiles. They are on the rampage. It is incredible.

“We’ve brought this to the attention of the government… people should be allowed to hunt and kill these crocodiles.”

Ugandans do not traditionally eat crocodile meat, Bagiire said, but called on the government to allow hunting because “people’s lives are in danger.”

Attacks

Crocodile meat is considered an exotic delicacy in neighbouring Kenya, where farms rear thousands of the reptiles and send the meat to upmarket restaurants. The meat is said to be delicious, although rather tough.

However, the calls to allow the hunting of crocodiles in Uganda provoked angry reactions from conservation officials and wildlife staff in the area, who have threatened to arrest anyone found to have killed a crocodile.

A senior official with the government-run Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said that people were bringing the attacks upon themselves.

“The people in those areas move in shallow waters and they also fish in shallow waters. They also bathe there and because of that, they are eaten by the crocodiles,” UWA’s Director of Operations Sam Mwandha said.

“They encroach on the territory of the crocodiles.”

Mwandha said that urging people to go crocodile hunting would endanger the lives of villagers as they have no professional skills for killing the crocodiles.

“Crocodile meat is very delicious, but when you tell people to go and hunt the crocodiles, they will be exposed to more danger … the animals will end up killing them instead,” Mwandha said.

Conservation authorities are encouraging people to take precautions and fish in deep waters where the crocodiles do not venture, he added.

Increased human settlements in areas which were formerly natural crocodile habitats have led to sporadic collisions between humans and the reptiles. 04 February, www.24.com