Swedes are buying more and more ivory and tiger parts – Aftonbladet

More and more Swedish tourists buy souvenirs of ivory, tiger parts and rhinoceros horn.

The development follows the increase in poaching of the endangered animals.

– The is a big responsibility to take on when buying these goods because they endangered animals are killed, people in the vicinity of losing their livelihood and poachers kill their opponents, says Mats Forslund at WWF.

Every third Swedish traveler who travel to countries in Africa, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam has bought souvenirs of parts from endangered wildlife. From 2014, the percentage increased from 26 to 33 percent.

If you look just at the numbers for souvenirs of ivory, tiger parts or rhinoceros horn as the consumption of Swedish tourists increased from 3.5 percent in 2014 to 4.8 percent last year.

the figures shown in a study by WWF conducted every year for the past four years.

– We have for years informed of what you are buying and what they support when buying these goods. We thought the message would have had an effect, but the reaction has been the opposite. It is equally surprising that seriously, says Mats Forslund who is an expert on the trade in endangered species, WWF.

“Parliamentary decisions behind fewer seizures”

Customs Administration statistics for 2014, which is the latest finalized, shows that that year made 22 seizures.

– the number tends to remain at roughly the same level each year, says Michaela Linderoth, press secretary for the agency.

According to Mats Forslund can on each plane home from Thailand, where much ivory shipped from Africa, to sit several Swedes bought souvenirs of parts from endangered wildlife.

22 seizure in a year, is not it low so case?

– Absolutely, but it is connected with a parliamentary resolution on a customs should work. You work a lot with tips for accessing the smuggling else and then it will be here suffering, says Mats Forslund.

On the Customs Service is meant to do the seizure of objects that require so-called CITES permits in several different ways.

– It may be that you get advice, make a routine check of a traveler or being found in a consignment, says Michaela Linderoth.

Criticism of Arlanda

the new figures will allow WWF now forced to reevaluate their work.

– we need to rethink how we do and what we should do, which is difficult to give direct answers. But we will of course continue to inform, says Mats Forslund.

One thing to hope for is to have an information booth at the airport.

– It is one of the few international airports in the world by not disclosing trade in these goods, and the problems surrounding it. Therefore, we will now lobby the government and hope that they provide a shareholder orders to Swedavia to set aside a few square meters of this information.

‘It supports the murderers and poachers’

Mats Forslund hope the trend reverses and the Swedish travelers realize that there is organized crime to support when buying souvenirs of parts from endangered wildlife.

– the elephant situation in Africa is very worrying and 35 000 are shot every year. We have seen a sharp increase in poaching from 2008 onwards and it is about organized crime. You fill containers with ivory and then threaten or bribe to get past inspections. Last week, shot a helicopter pilot who was looking for poachers. It is all this that you support when buying ivory and other products of this kind, says Mats Forslund.