The illicit trade of wild species has found a new operational field on the internet. An international study conducted by the University of Helsinki in Finland demonstrated how social media platforms and virtual markets are being used to sell animals, plants, and fungi, including endangered species.
This work, published in the journal Nature Reviews Biodiversity, indicates that illegal trade occurs on various platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, eBay, Google, Alibaba, and Shopee. During a six-week monitoring period in 2025, scientists located over 1,600 primates advertised for sale on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
However, the scale of the problem is significantly larger. In another six-week survey covering 280 platforms, 33,006 specimens of species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were identified. Of this total, 54% were live animals, while the remaining 46% consisted of animal parts or derived products.
The groups of living beings found in this online trade include birds, snakes, frogs, orchids, and cacti. Researchers observed that some of these species already face a high risk of extinction, while others had not even been previously classified as vulnerable to illegal trafficking.
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The African continent offers clear examples of how illegal species trade is adapting to the digital environment. Between 2010 and 2021, an estimated 800,000 African grey parrots were traded internationally. Additionally, monitoring exporter accounts on Facebook in Togo revealed more than 200 different types of species available for sale.
In South Africa, the illegal trade of flora has also undergone rapid transformation. The succulent genus Conophytum, desired by global collectors since 2019, spurred an increase in the collection of these plants in the Karoo Succulent biome. This expansion of harvesting led to the saturation of the clandestine market, causing the plant's price to drop to approximately one-hundredth of its initial value in just three years. However, this price reduction did not stop the pressure on biodiversity; researchers noted that collection began shifting to other plants and also to reptiles.
For those responsible for the study, although technologies and enforcement actions are crucial, they are not enough on their own to control the situation. Researchers advocate for an integrated approach involving local communities, technology companies, regulatory bodies, and non-governmental organizations.
Proposed solutions include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to intensify surveillance and strengthening moderation on platforms. International collaboration and mechanisms such as CITES and the European Union's Digital Services Act are also highlighted as vital in combating trafficking.
Annette Hübschle, a researcher at the University of Cape Town, emphasizes the importance of integrating local community knowledge and the experience of the Global South into strategies to combat illegal species trade. Meanwhile, Di Minin considers the problem to be 'complex, but not insurmountable,' requiring a partnership between various sectors and policies that consider the digital dimension of this trade.