Wildlife cybercrime grows
Shock as 30 000 animals or body parts sold on 280 global sites
IN 2014, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) carried out a survey and found that over 30 000 animals or their parts and products were sold across 280 online marketplaces in 16 countries over a six-week period.
The issue of wildlife cybercrime was due to come before the committee at COP17 today, with a document being presented outlining ways to deal with online illegal trading in wildlife.
The report, Wanted – Dead or Alive: Exposing Online Wildlife Trade, also found 9 482 advertisements for endangered animals and wildlife products, estimated to be worth at least $10 million (R135m).
A number of NGOs, government prosecution representatives and online retail sites are supporting the proposal to combat wildlife crime, and have already taken steps.
eDigital giant Tencent, owner of social media service WeChat and messenger service QQ, devised a novel campaign to begin to halt the ever-growing cyber scourge. “Tencent for the Planet” was launched in 2015 in partnership with Ifaw, and a number of online sites have added their support.
“Users of QQ can directly report illegal online wildlife products and each report is further investigated,” said Yang Peng, Tencent’s director of information security.
Ongoing education on illegal trade was also undertaken, and a professional consulting agency was used to investigate cases.
The report found that wildlife species mostly advertised online included ivory, python and tortoise.
Routine checks in China found a suspicious site promoting the hunting of wildlife, and managed to uncover an illegal weapons-manufacturing ring and a massive amount of ammunition.
“In one year we cleaned up the ebay market, took down listings and even prosecuted,” said ebay’s Wolfgang Weber.
The survey also found that instant messaging tools were used to advertise, and often pictures and videos were published on multiple platforms to stimulate transactions.
Following the banning of certain terms such as “ivory”, a number of pseudonyms emerged for jewellery retailers.
“Online wildlife crime poses a serious threat to endangered animals, including elephants, rhinos, reptiles and birds,” said Tania McCrea-Steele, Ifaw’s Global Wildlife Cybercrime Project leader.
“At a time when counts show historic lows of African elephants, and with rhino poaching numbers in the thousands – and climbing – for three years running, it is essential that companies, governments and NGOs come together to fight this growing hazard.”
The document recommends that both source and supply countries adopt best practices and improve their “working together. Internet companies, source and consumer countries, and related experts could develop best practices for domestic measures.”
The recommendations include developing data farming and highlighted that “enforcement efforts and developments in the law should expand to keep up with the growing trend of e-commerce”.
@SamHartsie