On November 10, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) held a question and answer session on Twitter to discuss wildlife trafficking and whistleblowers’ roles in fighting wildlife crime.
The Twitter thread referenced IFAW’s recent report on online wildlife trafficking, which examined 34 online marketplaces and “found nearly 1,200 advertisements for almost 2,400 animals, parts, derivatives, or products of protected species,” according to one of IFAW’s answers.
The question and answer session provided insight into spotting illicit wildlife crime online: IFAW states that trafficking “is hard to spot online,” but advises that a seller “being evasive about source, exact species type or documentation” should raise red flags. “If you see signs of trafficking, contact local wildlife authorities and use the ‘report’ feature on the platform you’re using.” Individuals who find evidence of wildlife crime online can also make a confidential report with NWC here.
What should individuals be on the lookout for? IFAW states that people should keep an eye out for “ivory products, skins, hunting trophies, and live wild animals to be sold as pets like reptiles, birds, primates, and wild cats,” as IFAW has seen numerous cases in which these items have been sold illegally.
Additionally, IFAW and NWC discussed Big Tech’s role in stopping the proliferation of online wildlife crime. IFAW Campaigns Director Mark Hofberg emphasizes the tech...
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