The customs' quarterly report listed about 2,000 parrots and sparrows from China's rice paddies, 30 kilogrammes (66 pounds) of rare corals, 130 carved ivory artefacts including bracelets, statuettes and Indian ivory blades inlaid with precious stones.

The goods were confiscated by a special team responsible for enforcing CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Travellers caught with a protected specimen face fines of as much as 9,000 euros (9,750 dollars) and even, in some cases, jail.

"Very few tourists who travel to exotic destinations in Africa, India or South America are aware of the regulations," said Domenico Tedesco, who leads the airport's CITES team.

He said tourists should only buy souvenirs with wildlife content from authorised shops that provide certificates specifying the species' scientific and common name and a precise description of the good.

SPACE.WIRE