About to go on holiday? Think twice about your souvenirs

If you’re about to go away for your holidays soon and you think you will probably come home with a few souvenirs then read on. Our friends at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have told us why it’s so important that you should think twice about what you bring home with you.

Millions of people fly out of the UK each summer in search of sun and relaxation. And many thousands come home with illegal souvenirs made from animal parts - often with no idea that they have done anything wrong. Most people don’t realise that the trade of endangered species is still a problem. A high profile anti-ivory poaching campaign highlighted the problems in the early nineties but sadly poaching still continues today. At least 20,000 elephants are killed annually for their ivory and the lives of about 100 rangers are lost each year protecting them. 

Over 26 metric tonnes (28.7 tons) of illegal ivory were seized between August 2006 and 2007, the last time period for which complete seizure information is available and a three-fold increase from the total amount seized in the previous three years combined. 

The illegal trade in wildlife is estimated to be worth many billions of dollars each year. While a large part of this trade is controlled by criminal gangs, much is also perpetrated by the hundreds of millions of people who go on foreign holidays each year and unwittingly buy souvenirs made from endangered species.

Each year, Customs agents seize tourist souvenirs made from endangered species, which are protected by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES has been signed by more than 172 countries, and regulates trade in about 5,000 species of animals and 25,000 species of plants.

Unfortunately, souvenirs made from endangered species are often very openly sold in foreign resorts, and so it can be hard for tourists to imagine they are doing any harm. In serious cases, however, tourists coming back home with such products in their luggage are risking hefty fines or even jail sentences.

Endangered species items that are commonly on sale include ivory, tortoiseshell, reptile skins, furs and some corals and seashells. It is illegal to bring many of these products into the UK, while others may require complicated permits.

Many people list their destination's beautiful natural environment and wildlife as a top reason for visiting the country. And yet by buying just one shell, piece of coral or ivory, they are helping to destroy the very natural beauty they came to see! IFAW's Think Twice campaign is asking people travelling abroad to err on the side of caution - if you're not sure what an item is made of, or whether it is legal, then don't buy it. Instead, buy souvenirs such as locally made handicrafts made from non-animal materials. 1. Don’t buy any products that you suspect are from wildlife.
Why not buy some locally made handicrafts from the local community instead?
2. If you do see items being sold then report the seller to your tour operator or to the local police. For safety reasons it’s not advisable to confront the seller directly.
3. Make sure that your wildlife watching trip is operated responsibly.
If a wildlife holiday is run responsibly then it can actively benefit anti poaching campaigns for example by funding patrols, helping to change community attitudes towards wildlife and by providing employment to local people. Even poachers can become reformed characters given a chance. For example this chimpanzee holiday employs an ex poacher who has turned his life around.

Have a look at some of our wildlife holidays and help encourage wildlife tourism increase the protection of endangered species. Check out our tiger watching holidays, gorilla safaris or orangutan holidays. If you want to get actively involved in wildlife conservation then why not try volunteering? We have lots of volunteer projects available where you can be involved in anti poaching patrols and play an active role in conserving wildlife.

For more information about IFAW and to support the Think Twice campaign click here

For more information on animal welfare issues in tourism, see our animal wefare section here