It was a mission she had carefully planned as she left Kenya for Iowa after touring some of the country’s National Parks. Her goal was to make a beautiful necklace using a rare and unique raw material: giraffe poop. She collected several giraffe poop and placed them in a box and boarded a plane back home. Now, however, the Iowa native is counting losses after Federal Authorities foiled her plans and confiscated her box of giraffe poop. The woman, who was not identified, by authorities was detained by customs authorities at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport on September 29.
According to Federal Authorities, the woman declared her bizarre luggage to customs officials. She claimed she intended to use the faces to make a necklace. The woman claimed she managed to achieve a similar fete in the past by using feces from a moose.
However, Federal Authorities dismissed her claims and confiscated the luggage. The US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that all ruminant animal feces require a Veterinary Services Permit for entry into the United States. The officials later destroyed the box of feces. Although the woman’s goal of bringing the poop to the US was stopped by authorities, it is possible to bring giraffe feces if one has the right permits.
How to bring giraffe poop to the US
Are you planning to carry a box of giraffe poop from your trip to Kenya? We provide you with a guide on how you can do it legally without attracting newspaper headlines. Giraffes are among the many wildlife that exist in National Parks in Africa. In Kenya, Giraffes are found in Tsavo National Park, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and Amboseli National Park.
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Steps to take to bring giraffe feces and live animals to US
Giraffes graze in a park in Kenya/Courtesy
Consult the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Before embarking on a mission to collect giraffe poop to bring into the US, take your time and research all the required permits. The research should also include all the potential risks involved, including health risks. Consult the U.S Fish and Wildlife website to determine if you need a permit to import the feces.
Get Veterinary Services Permit for entry into the United States
The permit is one of the requirements that you must have in your possession. You can get the permits from The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and also the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention Import Permit Program.
Declare at the point of entry
The declaration is an important part of the process of bringing Giraffe poop to the US. Declare through an oral declaration at the point of entry. Furthermore, you can also declare using mobile applications such as Mobile Passport Control or a self-service kiosk.