Online animal trade 'worrying'
2005-08-19 11:16
London - Lions are doing a roaring trade, with baboons, giraffes, zebras and chimps also on sale on the Internet, a report published on Tuesday said.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare UK (Ifaw) found 146 live primates up for grabs and nearly 9 000 wildlife products, including elephant tusks, it said in its report, "Caught in the Web".
Among the animals for sale were chimpanzees dressed as dolls for $60 000, a "sweet-natured" giraffe in need of a loving, caring home ($15 000), and a London gorilla needing a new home as its owner is relocating - yours for $8 100.
A live, "hand-reared" two-year old Siberian tiger, came with a $70 000 price tag.
Most of the products come from protected species and the trade in some animals is outlawed internationally.
A key market for poachers
After months of monitoring the nature and scale of wildlife trade on the internet, Ifaw UK concluded the internet is becoming the key market for poachers.
"This illegal trade has devastating implications for both wildlife conservation and animal welfare," the report said.
"Ifaw found a shocking array of species in which all commercial trade is prohibited or strictly regulated, including some of the world's most endangered species.
"Entire populations of certain species - in some cases, the whole species - risk being wiped out by over-exploitation."
What is more, researchers feared their findings were only the tip of the iceberg.
The IFAW warned time was running out and internet traders were "several steps ahead".
"Better inter-agency co-operation and a better co-ordinated response from legislators is no doubt essential in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade organised on the internet," it said.
Ifaw called for a code of practice for internet auction sites and for the laws on animal trading to be clarified.