John Leech MP pledges not to buy wildlife souvenirs

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 5th Sep 2006

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, is supporting the International Fund for Animal Welfare's campaign to save endangered species from the deadly trinket trade - by pledging not to buy wildlife souvenirs when travelling abroad.

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries. Yet this flourishing industry is resulting in thousands of holidaymakers returning home with 'exotic' souvenirs made from elephant ivory, rhino horn, animal teeth and claws, big cat skins, reptile skins, corals and much more.

Each year, Customs agents seize thousands of illegal wildlife items, many of them tourist souvenirs made from endangered or threatened species, which are protected by international law (1).

A YouGov survey carried out for IFAW and published today (5 September) reveals that, alarmingly, as many as 600,000 people have returned to the UK from holidays abroad with wildlife souvenirs, including elephant ivory, in the past five years. (2)

A recent IFAW investigation in South Africa, a popular destination visited by up to half a million Britons each year (3), demonstrates the extent of the problem. IFAW researchers discovered a thriving trade in wildlife souvenirs, including ivory carvings, porcupine quills and sharks' teeth, many of which are being sold illegally to British and other foreign tourists.

Other destinations popular with Britons escaping the approaching winter include the Mediterranean, Asia, South America and the Caribbean. IFAW warns that the wildlife souvenir trade is having a devastating impact on animal welfare as well as the conservation of endangered species.

John Leech MP said:

"I am proud to support IFAW's campaign by pledging not to buy wildlife souvenirs on my holidays and urge others to do the same. While some souvenirs may appear harmless often they belie a bloody trade. Wild animals belong in the wild, not in our homes. I hope future generations will be lucky enough to experience the thrill of seeing wildlife in its natural habitat and not through history books."

IFAW campaigner Nikki Kelly said:

"Tourists need to remember if they don't buy, animals won't die. IFAW is encouraging people travelling abroad to spend their money wisely by buying alternative holiday mementos that benefit local people directly, such as handicrafts, instead of items that harm the wildlife people are coming to see."

IFAW's 'Think Twice' campaign is also being supported by the influential Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) with celebrities David Jason, Steve Leonard, Chris Tarrant, Twiggy and Shauna Lowry also signing the pledge not to buy wildlife souvenirs.

People wishing to sign IFAW's pledge, and advice for people wishing to have a wildlife-friendly holiday in South Africa or in other parts of the world is available at www.ifaw.org/uk/thinktwice.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

(1) Wildlife is protected from over-exploitation through trade by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is an agreement signed by more than 160 countries, regulating trade in about 5,000 species of animals and 25,000 species of plants.

(2) YouGov poll carried out for IFAW included interviews with 2301 GB adults of which 1804 had travelled overseas within the last five years. Interviews were carried out between June 26 and 28 2006. 26% of those people who had travelled overseas within the last five years saw one or more of the items mentioned in our questions. The item most commonly seen was coral (16%), followed by reptile skin items (14%), animal teeth, claws or jaws (12%), elephant items (8%) and sea turtle shell (5%). 7% of the people who had seen the items purchased one or more of them. This represents one and a half per cent of the total sample of people who travelled abroad during the past five years. To give an idea of what this means nationally in the UK it means that some 600,000 people purchased the listed wildlife products abroad as souvenirs or gifts.

(3) In 2005, 470,000 visitors arrived in South Africa from Britain.

Founded in 1969, IFAW works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people.