ECO-SOLVE’s third Global Trend Report reveals trends in illegal wildlife trade (IWT), focusing on digital marketplaces and social media. Using data from its Global Monitoring System (GMS) in Brazil, South Africa, and Thailand, the report notes a 265% rise in IWT ads from August to October 2024, largely due to Thailand’s monitoring inclusion. Key findings include:
- Thailand as an ivory trade hotspot: Over 807 elephant-related ads were found in Thailand, primarily for raw ivory, often concealed with emojis
or coded language. Thailand represented 77% of global ads, with Facebook responsible for 91%.
- Increase in flora trafficking: The report highlights the illicit trade of rare succulents and orchids, with over 1.6 million succulents seized in South Africa from 2019 to 2024, threatening ecosystems like the Succulent Karoo.
- Digital platforms facilitate trafficking: Anonymity on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram allows traffickers to evade law enforcement. Sellers use private chats to dodge regulations.
The report advocates using technology to monitor IWT, complemented by enhanced regulations, global collaboration, and community-based solutions to address trafficking. It encourages policymakers to leverage GMS insights for precise interventions against IWT.
Monitoring-illegal-wildlife-trade-Ivory-and-plants-GI-TOC-January-2025