The summer holidays may seem a long way off, but now is the time when thousands of people will be making plans to head abroad for some sun and sea.

Liz Challand said exotic holidays were fuelling the trade

Naturally enough tour firms are seeking to cash in and hundreds were taking part in the recent Holiday World exhibition at Belfast's King's Hall.

But nestling among the motorhomes and holiday tour stalls bears and crocodiles were waiting to trap the unwary traveller, well OK just their remains.

They were part of a display laid on by HM Revenue and Customs, keen to impress on holidaymakers that they have a vital job in helping to conserve threatened species.

Among the contraband on show was the head of a grizzly bear, taken out of a container at the Port of Belfast from a man who was relocating from Canada to Australia.

But it is exotic holidays which have been fuelling the trade in unusual souvenirs, as stand manager Liz Challand explained.

"People are going further and heading for more exotic locations," she said.

"Gone are the days when people went to Paris and brought back a plastic Eiffel tower."

What can be imported is controlled by a regulatory mouthful: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (called Cites).

It is an international agreement between governments aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The scheme accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

It can throw up some anomalies for the tourist, bringing back one conch shell is fine, but more than three could land you in trouble.

Likewise with coral - in some areas it is a protected habitat and importing it could land the tourist with a fine.

The explosion in Chinese medicine has also had an effect, with tiger spleen and bear bile being seized from unsuspecting tourists at UK frontiers.

Mostly those importing the goods are unaware that they are doing anything wrong until the HMRC staff seize their property.

In one case the shell of a Green Sea Turtle, an endangered species, was brought back to the UK by a couple who had engaged in a round the world yacht trip.

"They were able to pick the turtle they wanted on the beach, the locals killed it, they ate the turtle and took back the shell to use as the centre-piece for a fireplace," she said.

The shell was seized at Southampton and now forms part of the HMRC display, and serves as a warning to be cautious about animal and plant products purchased abroad.

There are some beautiful ivory pieces on show, with expert craftmanship creating a dazzling display from the remains of endangered species.

However, the HMRC are keen to point out that other materials could be used to make souvenirs which will not attract the authorities attention.

Fines can be imposed on tourists, but normally the confiscation of the item is the only action taken.

They have lost their memento and the cash used to buy it.

"If you are in any doubt don't buy it", Liz said.

"Tourists fuel the demand for local people to make these items and will keep on doing that as long as people buy them."