Product Variation
The majority of our items are natural products, and availability is subject in part to the whims of nature, as well as the whims of our customers. Skulls, bones and insects vary in size, color and quality - this is part of their charm. We strive to describe our items accurately, but individual variability must be taken into account.
Recycling Bones
No animal was killed just for its bones. All the skulls and bones for sale in The Bone Room are by-products that would otherwise be thrown away. For example, many of our North American mammal skulls come from commercially trapped animals. Our exotic bird and reptile skulls come from the pet trade. Other skulls and horns come from the activities of game parks in the United States and Africa. We say, why waste this bounty? Rather than throw them out, we encourage the use of these remnants for study, for art, or for the sheer appreciation of natural design.
Insect Collection
The insects, on the other hand, are killed and sold through dealers all over the world. Insect collection is a legal and profitable way for third world inhabitants to make a living without destroying habitats. Instead of practicing "slash and burn" farming techniques, or selling rainforest acreage for timber, insects can be "farmed" or collected without fear of decimation. Encouraging the sustainable harvest of insects encourages local governments to preserve the habitats that produces them. Despite their exotic looks, many of these insects are quite common in their home countries, and through proper business practices, will stay abundant.
Last Words
We believe that making these specimens available to you can only encourage an appreciation of the natural world that surrounds us. Many people are astonishingly ignorant of the sheer variety and intricacy of the myriad species that share our world. When visitors come into our store, they often leave with a new appreciation for the strange forms nature takes. We invite your to explore the natural world with us, and to take a little bit of it home with you.
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