Delray Beach (United States) (AFP)
A Florida craftsman has started manufacturing protective masks from python and iguana skin, two exotic reptiles that swarm in this state in the southeast of the United States, threatening the local ecosystem.
"I transformed a vital object into a fashion accessory," explains Brian Wood in his workshop in Dania Beach, 40 km north of Miami.
"It's basic, but it works pretty well. They fit well and you can put a filter on them," says Wood, pointing to the ventilation holes on his reptilian masks.
His creations are available in several colors and sold for $ 90 on his Facebook page, All American Gator Products.
Snake hunter Amy Siewe provides Brian Wood with the huge pythons that they strip in the yard of his house, with a sharp blow.
"The Burmese python is an invasive species in Florida. They don't come from here, but from Southeast Asia and they are wreaking havoc in the Everglades," said Ms. Siewe, 43, referring to the area which occupies much of southern Florida.
Pythons were introduced to the region probably as pets at the end of the last century. Once released in the Everglades, they quickly reproduced, having no predator to hunt them.
The Florida Wildlife and Wildlife Agency (FWC) encourages locals, rewards, to catch these constricting snakes that destroy the ecosystem.
Iguanas also devastate the local flora. Last year, the FWC called on citizens to kill anyone they see as soon as possible, preferably humanely.
These large lizards do not escape Brian Wood's scissors, and their skin could soon end up protecting humans from the coronavirus.
© 2020 AFP