Is There An Endangered Species in Your Home?
Our planet is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. More species are being lost faster than ever before. Many view it as the sixth mass extinction to hit planet Earth, but this one is quite different.
Trading away the future of wildlife
Many animal species are hunted and traded for food, medicine, the live pet trade and for the curio and souvenir market. And much of it is illegal.
Are you part of the problem?Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries. While responsible
ecotourism can bring many benefits to communities and wildlife, many
tourists unwittingly return home with a holiday memento that may
have been made by hunting a wild animal.
Each year, customs agents
seize thousands of wildife souvenirs made from endangered species, which
are protected by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora
(CITES).
Many tourists who buy endangered species souvenirs have no idea they have
done anything wrong, especially because such trinkets are often
sold openly at resorts and in airports, shops and markets. However,
tourists coming home with such products risk heavy fines and in serious cases even lengthy jail terms.
Many people list the natural environment and wildlife as a top reason for
visiting their chosen destination. And yet by buying just one shell, piece of
coral or ivory, they are helping to destroy the very natural beauty they came to
see.
So think about it...
What are you really bringing back with you?
