World Wildlife Fund

What We Do

The Wild Things

Ride the tuna highway of the high seas and swim with rare river dolphins in a new edition of WWF's biweekly podcast series. Learn more.

Take Action

Take Action on Climate Change

Tell your member of Congress to vote YES on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Take Action

Travel

Travel With WWF

Visit our travel section and choose from many amazing trips! Learn more

Adopt an Animal

Make a symbolic animal adoption to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction and support WWF's conservation efforts. Adopt Now!

Support WWF

Show your love of the panda with the WWF Visa Signature^® credit card from Bank of America. Bank of America will contribute $100 to WWF for each new qualifying account.*

* See application for details.

Wildlife Trade

Fur Seal

You're on your way to catch an international flight when you get a call from a good friend. He's planning a bachelor party and wants you to bring back aphrodisiacs as a gag gift. Before you can reply, he rings off.

Antarctic fur seal
© WWF-Canon / Fritz Pölking

After settling into your seat and the plane takes off, you replay the conversation in your head. Hmmmmmmm. You seem to recall seeing somewhere (maybe the WWF Web site) that so-called aphrodisiacs are made from the testes and penis of the male fur seal.

The seal parts are believed to help with impotence, decreased sexual drive and as an aversion to cold. And, while many animal parts are purported to have aphrodisiac effects, scientific studies are inconclusive. Furthermore, the US prohibits the import of seal products, so you can't get these products legally anyway!

As you pass on the airplane food and opt for a snooze, you promise yourself that when you get back, you're going to give your friend a piece of your mind -- not a "piece" of seal. (Sorry, I couldn't help it).