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

Summer is vacation time. Many vacationers want to take memories of their stay in distant countries with them. But caution is advised: Vacation souvenirs often consist of rare animal and plant species, the illegal import of which is punishable by law. This leads to the destruction of nature, animal suffering and the loss of many species. The WWF souvenir guide provides guidance on which souvenirs we should and should not bring back from our vacation.

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. The WWF souvenir guide therefore warns the environmental protection organization urgently against buying 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.

Souvenirs contribute to species extinction

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.

The extinction of species is taking on apocalyptic proportions

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.

Problematic souvenirs

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.

Did you know?

Taking shells, sand and stones with you is also strictly prohibited in some countries and can lead to severe fines. For example, taking shells with you is STRICTLY prohibited in popular destinations such as Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Dubai, the Dominican Republic and New Zealand.

In other countries, mussels under species protection (Thailand, USA and Mexico) are strictly protected and may not be exported. In some countries, on the other hand, the number of mussels that can be taken along is limited to a maximum of three large specimens (Germany, Croatia, France, Portugal, Spain, Greece).

The situation is similar with sand. As this is always a precious commodity in many coastal towns, the export of sand is also severely restricted - in almost the same countries that also ban the export of shells. Stealing stones is also strictly forbidden in these countries!

Animal suffering through selfies 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, direct contact with humans, performing tricks and living in inappropriate conditions is highly unnatural and stressful for them. Therefore, the advice: for long-lasting memories, stay away from animal or plant souvenirs!", says Georg Scattolin.