Rainsticks

[Phil Hocking]

I was browsing for something else and came across a list of CITES customs seizures for 2001. In this are listed 30 or more rainsticks (Eulychnia species). According to another website 'This South American instrument is made of wood skeletons of cactus plants from the Acatamadesert (sic)'. Apparently you can buy one for ?30 in the UK so I'm wondering if they are banned or not. Also, are people chopping down living plants and drying them if there are not enough dead ones to satisfy demand?

Phil in Somerset, UK

[Roy]

Make no mistake the majority of people who live in cactus area's in South America regard them as a nuisance weed. Cacti vasular bundles are often used for light construction or decoritive purposes. Trichocereus pasacanas are used to make tourist curios, this bowl is typical of the sort of things they make. It is not uncommon to see pasacanas being towed away behind a donkey, legal or not .

[iann]

Rainsticks, including those from Eulychnia acida but not other Eulychnia species, have an exemption allowing personal imports of up to three rainsticks per person without CITES permits. Larger imports without CITES certification are illegal and subject to seizure. Posession and trade of rainsticks within the EU is legal.

[Roy]

Just as ps when my friend went to Chile he reported that there was hundreds upon hundreds of dead Eulycnias in the north, nothing to do with man, just natural cycles.

[Julie]

That'a a bit worrying. I have one, and I also bought one for a friend. They were both a fiver or less, if I recall.

[Bill]

Having been involved in the sort of business where I came across these items, most of those generaly on sale in the UK are made from Bamboo, so I think you can sleep easily Julie.