Researchers tracking online activity find that illegal wildlife trade listings appear across major social media platforms. A landmark study summarized by multiple outlets reports that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are used to advertise wildlife for sale, including primates and a range of other species groups.
Across reporting, the monitoring results point to thousands of species being at risk through online channels. One account cites figures such as more than 1,600 primates advertised for sale, alongside a broader black market for different wildlife. Other outlets emphasize the wide variety of animals and plants spotted during a six-week monitoring period in mid-2025, including birds, snakes, frogs and orchids.
While both sources describe social media as a key route for trafficking, they differ in emphasis: one highlights specific scale-related statistics and the global biodiversity threat, while the other stresses the breadth of taxa and the risks to ecosystems, animal health and public health. Both conclude that stronger responses are needed, including better regulation and engagement with communities to reduce online facilitation.
