Dubai: Think twice before you buy a souvenir, and help save an endangered animal, the Dubai Municipality warned on Thusday.
This is the third year the Municipality said it had taken part in the campaign based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
It was working in cooperation with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
A display of confiscated illegal goods has been set up at the Arabian Centre, in Mushrif, to help educate the public about endangered species and illegal trade in animal products.
Encouraging members of the public not to buy the souvenirs, and traders to not sell them, will help reserve wildlife, the municipality indicated.
"This project shows Dubai Municipality's and the UAE's commitment to the conservation of wildlife and the Cites regulations," said Environmental and Public Health Services Assistant Director General Engineer Salah Amiri.
"We are definitely targeting the awareness campaign towards children, even though we are coming to the end of the school year, to help create a mentality and attitude of wildlife conservation at an early age and they in turn may influence their parents," he said.
Control system
"The Municipality has set up a control system as part of its role to curb the illicit trade and legal violations committed by some traders. "We have inspectors to go all around Dubai checking for these things, specially at times of festivals, like global village and shopping festival, when they are more likely to be available."
Amiri said the campaign would last the whole year to reach out to all schools, universities, organisations, shopping malls and souqs.
Contact info
Members of the public who witness trade in protected species are urged to phone Dubai Municipality on 800 900
