Wildlife group: Exotic pets trade activity rises on Facebook
The monitoring network TRAFFIC said its researchers found 1,521 animals for sale online in 12 Facebook groups in Thailand in less than a month of monitoring in 2016.
AP: ‘A wildlife monitoring group says research it has conducted since 2016 has found a sharp increase in the number of people belonging to Facebook groups in Thailand where endangered animals are bought and sold. The monitoring network TRAFFIC said its researchers found 1,521 animals for sale online in 12 Facebook groups in Thailand in less than a month of monitoring in 2016. Follow-up research on the same 12 groups showed that at least nine were still active in July this year, with one becoming secret, and their overall membership had increased to 203,445 from 106,111…
A new report by the group shows screenshots of exotic animals advertised for sale on Facebook. In one example, an unidentified user posted a picture of a rare hornbill bird with a caption saying “a baby rhinoceros hornbill is available for purchase. Interested buyers, please contact by Facebook private message.” The bird’s price was listed as 9,500 baht ($289). The report said rarer and protected species command higher prices. The report said the vast majority of animals offered in the online wildlife trade were juveniles, prized for pets’. SOURCE…
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