Monitor this situation.

Unsubscribe anytime.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [INTERNATIONAL]

2 clusters · 8 sources · 14 days · First seen 27 days ago · Last updated 14 days ago

Online platforms and illegal wildlife trade

Overview

Research led by the University of Helsinki indicates a significant rise in the illegal trade of threatened animal, plant, and fungal species through social media and online marketplaces. The study, published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, notes that anonymity and weak regulatory governance drive this digital shift, which threatens global biodiversity by targeting species such as primates, birds, and orchids.

Further observations highlight how viral content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube contributes to this trend. Biologist Andreas Dinkelmeyer of IFAW warns that videos featuring exotic animals create a false impression of suitability as pets, fueling demand. This trend places animals under extreme stress and often ignores the complex care requirements and long lifespans of various species.

Entities

Andreas Dinkelmeyer · Enrico Di Minin · TikTok · Instagram · University of Helsinki

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Social media content is fueling the illegal wildlife trade. www.kurierverlag.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Wild animals have complex environmental requirements that are rarely met in private settings. www.kurierverlag.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Certain reptiles can live for more than 60 years. www.kurierverlag.de · www.hna.de · www.merkur.de

Timeline

14 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
Social media trends fuel illegal wildlife trade
Social media trends on platforms like TikTok and Instagram are fueling the illegal wildlife trade by glamorizing the ownership of exotic animals, according to IFAW.
27 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
University of Helsinki study links online platforms to rising illegal wildlife trade
A University of Helsinki study reveals that illegal wildlife trade is rapidly shifting to social media and online marketplaces, threatening thousands of species including primates, birds, and orchids.

Sources

brainstorm.itweb.co.za · etailment.de · helsinki.fi · hna.de · kurierverlag.de · mannheim24.de · merkur-online.de · tz-online.de