Eight live big cats, tortoises, hippo teeth and a Rolls Royce upholstered with alligator skin were seized by UK border officials in a record year for endangered animal items.
More of these items were confiscated in the year up to April 2013 than in any other year, the Home Office has said.
One of the biggest shifts was the increasing use of these species in bodybuilding supplements and facial creams, a border official said.
More than 690 seizures were made.
That was up from 516 seizures the year before and included 3,890kg (8,570lbs) of medicine containing extracts of endangered species, 326 ivory items and 93 live animals.
Wildlife groups said they feared the problem will only get worse.
Posts
