Souvenirs to Steer Clear Of

You're having the best vacation of your life - so it's only natural that you want to bring home souvenirs. But if you're not careful, you might be putting your idyllic vacation spot and yourself in danger.

Compassionate travelers should always remember - just because an item is for sale, it doesn't make it legal to buy and bring home. Unfortunately, far too many souvenirs are made from protected species of native wildlife, and purchasing them undermines the conservation efforts of local governments. The cost to the animals is very high - oftentimes they end up paying with their lives.

Threatened wildlife is often protected under national laws and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Travelers are subject to international wildlife protection laws as well as those in the countries that they visit and reside in. If you attempt to bring contraband wildlife souvenirs home with you, your items could be seized and you could be arrested, imprisoned and charged a serious fine.

Although the following list is not exhaustive, it provides examples of souvenirs that compassionate travelers should avoid.

Live animals such as birds, amphibians, and reptiles
Traditional Asian Medicines containing animal ingredients like tiger bone, rhinoceros horn, deer antler, bear gall bladder
Ornamental objects or jewelry that contain ivory, tusks, teeth, jaws, bones, antlers, horns, claws, shells, corals, whale baleen, and tortoiseshell
Products made from skins, leathers, fur, bird feathers, and wool of exotic animals e.g. shahtoosh
Trophies, mounted animals, and dried animals such as starfish, seahorses, and corals
Photographs taken with captive wild animals