Awareness generation

“Don’t Buy Trouble” is TRAFFIC India’s awareness campaign that advises tourists to be careful of what they buy as souvenirs during their travels. The message comes in the form of four eye-catching posters on ivory, marine products, shahtoosh and reptile skin products. Targeted mainly at domestic and foreign tourists, the posters send a clear message across that it is not only the poachers and traders who are liable for punishment under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for hunting or trading in products made from protected species of wildlife, , but also those who purchase and use such products. The end consumer thus becomes as much as the partner in wildlife crime as the trader or the poacher. If found guilty, the offender is liable to hefty fines and up to seven years imprisonment. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

The campaign has been running successfully since 2008 at airports, Tiger reserves, national parks, wildlife resorts/hotels, travel agencies, schools, colleges and other prominent locations.