Animal and wildlife foreva!!

Writing this blog is really so fun because i get to learn so many things which I really enjoy and love. Everyday I learn something new from my post. Feeling content at this moment..

Haha! Anyway here are a few animals and wildlife products which we should avoid buying. Why? Because we love them so much, we live for them and they live for us. Most importantly, we depend on one another to live hapilly ever after...

Elephant Ivory

Poaching is still rampant in both Africa and Asia to supply the huge demand for ivory products. Ivory is often carved into jewelry, chopsticks, hair slides, ornaments and name seals. Elephant leather and hair products are also commonly for sale. Because it is sold so openly in some countries, you might not realise it is illegal to bring ivory home with you.

Reptile Skins

Skins from crocodiles, alligators, snakes, lizards and other reptiles are often made into bags, shoes, watch straps or belts. It is hard to tell the difference between the skin of an endangered and non-endangered species. Many reptiles are protected under international law. Alligator and crocodile products are the wildlife items most frequently seized by Customs.

Tortoise Shell

"Tortoiseshell" is the term commonly used for sea turtle shells, which are frequently turned into souvenirs such as sunglasses, hair slides and jewelry. The beautiful shell of the hawksbill turtle (bekko) is particularly sought after. International trade in the products of all marine turtles is illegal. Yet they are still widely available in resorts all over the world.

Seahorses

The primary uses for seahorses are traditional medicines, souvenirs and curios (dried trade), and trade as aquarium pets (live trade). The global trade in dried seahorses exceeded 24.5 million individuals in 2000. Many hundreds of thousands were also caught that year to supply the expanding pet trade.

Corals

Corals are tiny animals that live together in large colonies. They are commonly harvested for souvenirs, especially black, red, bush, hump, finger and lace corals. Corals play an essential role in shallow water reef ecosystems by providing food and shelter for thousands of other species. Many species of corals are protected, with trade either regulated or strictly prohibited.

Sea shells

Often for sale in a variety of beautiful colours and sizes, seashells are harvested in great quantities. This has pushed some into the endangered zone - especially large ones such as the Queen conch or the giant clam which take many decades to grow. You cannot bring seashells home with you without export and import permits.

BigCat Skins

Big cats are the ultimate fashion victims. Tigers, leopards, cheetahs and lions have long been slaughtered for their beautiful and distinctive furs. Despite falling numbers in the wild and the fact that they are protected from international trade, the market for big cat coats, bags, rugs and other trophies continues. Travellers should remember the skins belong to the big cats - and not to us!

Caviar

Caviar (sturgeon eggs) is considered by some as a "luxury." All 27 species of this fish are threatened or endangered, usually caught before they reach sexual maturity. The beluga sturgeon, the world's largest freshwater fish, is now in danger of extinction after 250 million years on Earth. Much of the trade in caviar is controlled by the Russian mafia around the Caspian Sea. Although 250g of caviar is allowed for personal use, it’s best to avoid it. Ninety percent of traded caviar comes from illegal sources.

Live Animal Trade

Some tourists try to bring back animals such as tortoises or other exotic reptiles or birds from foreign resorts. While exotic animals can be purchased from pet shops – many do so without realizing they have been caught in the wild. Sadly, about 90 percent of reptiles and amphibians die before leaving their country of origin, due to inhumane captive and storage conditions. A further 90 percent die within a year after being taken home.

Shark's fin soup

About 100 million sharks are caught worldwide each year – many to make this dish. As only the fins attract high prices, they are generally hauled on board fishing ships, have their fins hacked off, and are then thrown back into the sea alive. Without their fins, the sharks are unable to swim and die a slow death.

Bird nest soup

made from the nests of Asian swiftlets (the nests are made from saliva, sometimes mixed with grass and feathers). Nearly 20 million nests are traded annually in countries such as India and the Philippines, and are very often collected before the birds have had a chance to breed. This has led to their populations plummeting

And not to forget turtle's eggs! Many of them are going through extinction becuase we ate all their eggs! how cruel we are.