What You Need to Know
Before you go shopping overseas, make sure that the country you're visiting allows the export of its native species or wildlife that you buy or acquire there. Remember that resource protection laws and treaties not only cover live animals and plants, but also mounted specimens, foods, parts, and products made from or decorated with fur, hide, skin, feathers, scales, shells, antlers, horns teeth, claws, or bones.
The guidelines below apply to wildlife items that you carry with you or bring back in your checked luggage for your personal use, all of which must be declared to customs officers. Stricter prohibitions may apply if you mail or ship your purchases home.
Buyer Beware Watch List
Prohibited imports include:
- All sea turtle products
- Ivory, raw, and carved
- fur from tigers, most spotted cats, seals, polar bears, and sea otters
- Live monkeys and apes
- Most live birds, including parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and finches
- Wild bird feathers and mounted birds
- Some live snakes, turtles, crocodilians, lizards, and snakes
- Certain leather products, including some made from caiman, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes
- Some corals, coral products, and shells
- Some orchids, cacti, and cycads
- Medicinals made from rhino, tiger, or Asiatic black bear
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