Customs confiscated endangered stone corals: memories from Australia!

Customs confiscated endangered stone corals: memories from Australia!

Hauptzollamt Heilbronn, Deutschland - customs officials in Tauberbischofsheim took a closer look at a 21-year-old woman from the Main-Tauber district delivered from Australia. Panel were supposedly harmless beach finds - but including two confiscated stone corals, which are subject to the Washington Convention on Species in accordance with the Regulation VO (EG) No. 338/97. These species protection laws protect numerous endangered animal and plant species and ensure that such illegal souvenirs do not get on the market.

Marcel Schröder, press spokesman for the main customs office Heilbronn, warned of the consequences of collecting exotic souvenirs: "We strongly advise you to do without such souvenirs." Annually protected animal and plant species are discovered by the customs officers in over 1,000 cases, be it in the luggage of travelers or in commercial goods. Customs thus play a crucial role in the protection of biodiversity.