ABTA backs campaign against wildlife souvenirs

ABTA has pledged support for a global campaign by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to save endangered species from a trade in wildlife souvenirs.

A YouGov poll carried out for IFAW reveals that more than 600,000 Britons have returned from holidays abroad with wildlife souvenirs, including ivory, in the past five years.

Threatened species, including elephants, rhinos, leopards and turtles, are being slaughtered internationally – and mostly illegally – to feed the growing trade that turns ivory, fur, claws, teeth and shells into holiday trinkets, according to IFAW.

The organisation’s wildlife campaigner Nikki Kelly said: “Most of these souvenirs are being bought unwittingly simply because travellers are confused by the complex laws governing trade in wild animals or because they just aren’t aware of them.

“Worse still, wildlife souvenirs are often sold so openly abroad many tourists mistakenly believe they must be legal.”

The international awareness campaign is urging travellers to ‘Think Twice’ and avoid buying wild animal trinkets when on holiday.

Travellers to South Africa are being targeted in particular as IFAW claims a “rampant souvenir trade” is endangering wildlife throughout the region, as well as countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe.

A recent undercover investigation by IFAW in South Africa revealed that souvenirs made from elephant ivory and hair, sharks’ teeth, lion and cheetah claws, porcupine quills and zebra skin are being extensively, openly and often illegally sold in airports, markets and curio shops, to be brought back to the UK.

ABTA head of consumer affairs Keith Richards said: “The destruction being caused to wildlife just for the sake of souvenirs has alarmed us, not least because tourism is among the world’s fastest growing businesses.

“We encourage our members to raise awareness by giving advice to their customers on souvenirs that should be avoided in holiday destinations around the world. We’d also encourage tour reps to be briefed to mention the ‘Think Twice’ campaign in the meetings they have with holidaymakers in key destinations.  Unless the travel industry acts now some of the very animals so many people go abroad to see may soon only be found on our mantelpieces or in our jewellery boxes.”    

IFAW UK’s director Robbie Marsland says: “Tourists need to remember if they don’t buy, animals won’t die. If 600,000 British tourists are bringing back parts of dead animals as souvenirs think how many millions must be dying internationally. It’s far better to buy alternative mementos, such as local handicrafts instead of items that harm the very animals that people have travelled so far to see”.

Report by Phil Davies