Bonfire at the main square in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, India where animal skins and clothes made from hides were burnt on February 20 2006. This follows a drive which began in Tibet, after the Dalai Lama expressed his concern over the involvement of Tibetans in the trade and use of animal skins. (Tenzin Wangyal)
The event was initiated by Dhomey Kyiduk, a Tibetan social welfare organization, in support of the worldwide environment movement and respect for international environment laws to protect and preserve endangered wildlife species. Dhomey Kyiduk issued a statement saying: “We, the Tibetans here in Nepal are gathered here voluntarily today, to join in this environmental drive and show our solidarity to stop the trade in and use of animal skins and furs in clothing and accesssories.
Recently, His Holiness the Dalai Lama strongly condemned the trade in and use of animal skins of endangered wildlife species such as tiger and leopard skins.” Similar animal pelt burnings have been held by exiled Tibetans in Dharamsala, India.