The Hidden Cost of Wildlife Souvenirs

You’re having the best vacation of your life – so it’s only natural that you want to bring home souvenirs!

As a Compassionate Traveler, keep in mind that many souvenirs are made from protected species of native wildlife and the cost to the animals is very high; oftentimes, they end up paying with their lives.

Instead of buying a “Souvenir to Avoid” item below, purchase an animal-friendly memento during your vacation, such as a postcard, landscape photograph, cotton T-shirt, ceramics, glassware, book, sand vial or magnet. 

Just because an item is for sale doesn't mean it’s legal to buy!
Threatened wildlife is often protected under national laws and under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and travelers are subject to these international wildlife protection laws. If you attempt to bring illegal wildlife souvenirs into the U.S., your items could be seized and you could be charged a serious fine or jail time.

Souvenirs to Avoid

Marine Life (dried starfish, seahorses, coral, conch shells, shark teeth & jaws)
These marine animals may have been purposely taken from their habit, which could cause irreparable damage to the delicate undersea world. Corals and shells provide valuable habitat for threatened marine life and benefit local economies by supporting ecotourism.

Reptiles (tortoiseshell, alligator skin, dried snakes & lizards)
Endangered sea turtles are often killed for tortoiseshell jewelry and other trinkets. Other reptiles are collected illegally and killed inhumanely to produce shoes, handbags, wallets and watchbands. Also steer clear of souvenirs made from dried snakes and lizards.

Fur
Many endangered animals such as jaguars, leopards, ocelots, seals and polar bears are hunted and killed for their fur. The most compassionate and humane option is to avoid purchasing all fur and fur-trimmed products.

Live Animals
It is never a compassionate choice to bring home live animals as souvenirs, as they often suffer during transport and when put in an unfamiliar environment.

Birds & their Feathers
Wild birds have been illegally poached and trafficked for decades with many species now endangered. Avoid purchasing live birds as pets, as well as mounted birds, feathers or bird nests.

Photos with Captive Animals
Don’t commemorate your trip by having your picture taken with a chimp, lion cub, bear or other captive wild animal. They are frequently stolen from the wild as babies and kept in inhumane conditions, while their mothers are often killed for trophies or bushmeat.

Traditional Asian Medicines
Some of these products contain parts of endangered wild animals. For example, on Asian bear farms, bile is painfully extracted from captive bears in order to create traditional medicines, shampoos and wines. Tiger bone and rhino horn are also used in some traditional remedies, leaving these species critically endangered.

Ivory & Bone
Both African and Asian elephants have been hunted nearly to extinction for their ivory tusks, despite the fact that trade in both raw and carved ivory is illegal. Travelers should also avoid items made from the tusks or bones of whales, walruses and seals.

Bushmeat & Exotic Foods
Compassionate Travelers should avoid eating turtle meat and eggs, shark fin soup, queen conch and dog meat.

Download WSPA’s Tourism and Wildlife Trade Brochure (PDF) >>