WWF, the independent conservation organisation, has highlighted an increasing problem of holidaymakers increasingly bringing more than just a few trinkets as souvenirs.
Coral, elephant ivory and skin products and live reptiles are among the illegal items being brought into the UK by travellers.
But it was traditional Chinese medicine products that topped the list with close to 100 items being seized by British customs last year.
Snake and lizard items such as handbags or shoes were second, with 44 seizures at airports, and were closely followed by 39 seizures for crocodile and alligator products.
In total, over 160,000 illegal wildlife trade items were confiscated by Customs last year, and many were from endangered species.
And over 150,000 illegal plants were confiscated, such as orchids and cyads, as well as 221 elephant and skin products and close to 1,000 live reptiles.
"Many tourists could be unwittingly helping to push some of the world's most endangered species to the brink of extinction – all for the sake of an exotic souvenir," said Heather Sohl, wildlife trade officer for WWF.
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