Lerwick in Shetland and Greenock in Inverclyde were named among the top 10 UK destinations in wildlife group WWF's first ever list of key endangered species smuggling channels.

WWF unveiled figures identifying Scottish coastal locations as key targets for traffickers.

It called on the Scottish Executive to make greater efforts to combat illegal animal smuggling.

Although you can be stopped by customs on crossing our borders with illegal goods, once in the UK you can't be arrested for selling the world's most endangered wildlife

George Baxter WWF

Whale meat, python skin belts and turtles were among 42 separate seizures made at Lerwick - which was sixth on the list of smuggling hotspots - between 1996 and 2000, according to the report.

A stuffed cobra, mongoose and owl, as well as three pickled cobras in bottles of Vietnamese snake oil wine, were among the more bizarre discoveries of the last 12 months in Shetland's capital.

Greenock, where 25 seizures were made in the same five-year period, came ninth on the list - which was topped by Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick airports, with 1,001, 201 and 92 seizures respectively.

"We believe the seizures we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg of illegal wildlife trade in the Scotland," said WWF Scotland's spokesman George Baxter.

Egg theft

"Although you can be stopped by customs on crossing our borders with illegal goods, once in the UK you can't be arrested for selling the world's most endangered wildlife.

"It is not enough to clamp down on the domestic trade in Scottish wildlife such as egg theft.

"The executive has to also introduce tough new legislation to clamp down on this growing international trade within Scotland."

Stuart Chapman, head of the WWF's species programme, added: "Although most of the seizures in Shetland and Greenock were individual items being smuggled in on small boats and cruise ships, this is clear evidence of a domestic demand for exotic wildlife items that is fuelling a wider commercial trade."