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Internet Becomes the New Market for Illegal Wildlife Sales
Buyers beware: the goods you are purchasing could be illegal.
The illegal selling and trading of animals—or their parts—has been known of for a long time. Sometimes, governments permit temporary sales or trades. In most cases, you will find these things on the black market. However, traders are willing to do whatever it takes to reach a wider customer base and evade authorities. Their chosen method of gaining higher sales may surprise you: the internet.
Grace Ge, IFAW’s Asian regional director, suspects foul play. At a recent animal rights conference held in Singapore, she claimed that traders are able to “circumvent rules, regulations and evade enforcement” through the internet. She goes further to add that “the internet has facilitated the training of wildlife, which is having a devastating effect on animals and ecosystems worldwide”.
IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) conducted a study on illegal online wildlife trading in 2008, over a three-month period. Their findings show over 7,000 online advertisements selling endangered species or products made from them. Seventy percent of these advertisements originated in the US, followed by the UK and China with nearly 8 percent, each. The estimated value of all sales was nearly half a million dollars, but researchers speculate the actual amount would be higher since most of the sites did not show any actual prices.
Some of the things that have been available for illegal sale online include: rhinoceros horns, leopard pelts, live tiger cubs, and medicine. Yes, medicine. Some medicines, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been known to sell medicinal products made from bears, tigers and other animals. The good news is there are TCM practitioners that are more willing to protect wildlife, rather than sell parts of wildlife.
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) has been working with the TCM industry to make a positive change. In particular, they have been working with TCM practitioners in Singapore, by using a labeling scheme to discourage local TCM shops from selling products made from endangered species. Over 20 percent of all TCM shops in Singapore willingly agreed to the initiative.
If, for some insane or cruel reason, you have a mind to purchase an exotic animal, or product made from one, think again. Not only is it a heartless thing to do, it’s also illegal. I’m sure you wouldn’t want some person hunting you and selling your parts for profit. Why on Earth would you think any other creature would feel differently?
By Heidi Marshall
Tags: ACRES, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, endangered species, IFAW, illegal wildlife trade, International Fund for Animal Welfare, poaching, sales, study, TCM, traditional Chinese medicine
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