Tiger selfie and coral necklace - New WWF guide warns against animal souvenirs

Vacation souvenirs often made from rare animal and plant species - illegal import is punishable by law and destroys nature - WWF souvenir guide offers orientation

Selfies with sedated tigers, shark teeth to hang around your neck or dried butterflies in picture frames - souvenirs are offered in a wide variety of forms.

Not only are these souvenirs often punishable when imported, but they also cause animal suffering and contribute significantly to the destruction of natural habitats and the extinction of rare animal and plant species. With a new edition of the WWF souvenir guide, the environmental protection organization is therefore urgently warning against the purchase of animal souvenirs:

"What is tempting as a harmless souvenir on the beach or at exotic markets is helping to push rare species to the brink of extinction," warns Georg Scattolin, head of the international program at WWF Austria.

Around 30 percent of the animal and plant species on the international red list are threatened. In addition to habitat loss, this is mainly due to overexploitation, for example for trade or consumption.

Many species are taken from the wild, even if they are protected. They are misused for tourist purposes or turned into souvenirs. The constant demand encourages people to continue offering these questionable goods and activities despite all the bans and concerns.

"Whether corals, reptiles, traditional medicine products made from animals or tropical wood carvings - you should keep your hands off many memorabilia so as not to fall foul of the law and commit theft against nature," says Scattolin.

The list of problematic souvenirs is long. Particularly frequently confiscated souvenirs are carvings, jewelry and decorative items made from ivory, tortoiseshell or protected woods, various corals and jewelry or art objects made from them, leather goods made from protected reptile species or fur products.

Every year, 25 million seahorses are killed for souvenir production or for use as supposed remedies.

More than a million crocodiles and monitor lizards die for the fashion industry every year. Caution is also advised with exotic delicacies such as sturgeon caviar, snake, scorpion or tiger bone wine. In addition to confiscation, travelers face fines of up to 80,000 euros and, in extreme cases, even up to five years in prison.

"Exotic souvenirs should generally be purchased with caution. Even small and inconspicuous species can be endangered and therefore protected. You are only on the safe side if you don't buy any plant or animal souvenirs," advises WWF expert Georg Scattolin.

Selfie with tigers, dolphin shows and animal fights

But poaching is not just for souvenirs. In some countries, entertainment shows with wild animals have established themselves as tourist attractions, some of which involve direct contact with wild animals.

Some of the animals were caught illegally in their natural habitats or bred in captivity and tranquilized in order to offer them to tourists for selfies and petting, to put on shows with them or to use them for tourist leisure activities.

"Even if you can't tell that wild animals are unwell, for them direct contact with humans, performing tricks and living in inappropriate conditions is highly unnatural and stressful. Therefore, the advice: for long-lasting memories, stay away from animal or plant souvenirs!", says Georg Scattolin.