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Tacky I Know But.......

Pompey
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2,163 posts
5 reviews
3 helpful votes
Tacky I Know But.......
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'Gator heads? You know, the ones that seem to have pride of place in all the 'Gift Shops' of a certain calibre.

I know that 'Gators are reared for food so presume these are just a by-product of that trade.

The question is has anyone actually bought one or are they just the same old heads on the shelves looking back at me every year? Also if you have bought one have you got it thru' Customs ok, or are they a 'banned' item?

Bergen, Germany
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4,593 posts
132 reviews
99 helpful votes
1. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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Ok Bluesbro! I hadnt really thought of them as real Gator heads!! I dont know what I thought they were made of! They are normally really small ones! Which means they were baby Gators!! lol

Never bought one as they just give me the creeps!

Newcastle, United...
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443 posts
9 reviews
6 helpful votes
2. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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What a weird question! And unfortunately, now that you have asked it I'm dying to know too! How do they accumulate so many heads and does anybody actually buy them, if not why do they have so many?

Pompey
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2,163 posts
5 reviews
3 helpful votes
3. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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Well along with the farming for food 'tan' the skin is 'tanned' for leather to be used in handbags/shoes & the like (this is probably the main reason for the trade). I presume that the smaller the animal the softer the leather, that would explain why the majority of heads on sale are just babies.

ads
London, United...
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5,683 posts
18 reviews
68 helpful votes
4. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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we bought one once ! We had a competition on who could buy the worst prezzy for the MIL. I would have won but someone bought some sort of fetus in a jar ! Quality !!

Edited: 13 years ago
edinburgh
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4,012 posts
22 reviews
41 helpful votes
5. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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My son bought one a few years ago, just been moving bedrooms and came across it last week.

Aberdeen, United...
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9,015 posts
5 reviews
133 helpful votes
6. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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I have one which is used as a front door knocker. Quite classy but the postman has lost a finger.

Pompey
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2,163 posts
5 reviews
3 helpful votes
7. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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Ahh!!! would that be a Shark foetus? I think I remember them they're on the next shelf IIRC.

I have had a strange urge to buy a gator, not sure whether for myself or for someone else yet, just crossed my mind & I thought I'd ask here to see if it would be ok to import one. :-)

uk
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491 posts
10 reviews
7 helpful votes
8. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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If you're coming from the UK keep all of your paperwork that you get when you buy it, but you still might get it confiscated by accident on the way home.

I work in a zoo and we have lots of reptile products on loan from customs and excise. Many of these products are from unlicenced trading of west african dwarf crocodiles. The farmed products from gator farms are legal as long as you've got good proof/the relevant permit, but you may find officials wanting to be on the safe side or simply not being able to differentiate. Especially likely if your flight comes in at a similar time to those from a country known for smuggling products like that in.

Pompey
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2,163 posts
5 reviews
3 helpful votes
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Thanks for that Indri. The sort of answer I was expecting sooner or later. ;-) (not that there's anything wrong with the other ones. lol)

Ireland
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720 posts
6 reviews
7 helpful votes
10. Re: Tacky I Know But.......
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Ewwwww my dad totally wanted to buy one last year, and because he didnt hes planning on buying one next year... Shame on u dad lol ;)

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