Dutch Animal Trade Survey 2006: Caught in Web
In October 2006, IFAW Netherland carried out a month-long study of the private and commercial legal and illegal trade in wild animals on Dutch-language websites.
A shocking number of wild animals and animal products are traded on popular
auction sites and specialized Dutch-language websites and chatrooms.
In just one month, at least 150 Dutch-language websites were found to be selling endangered species of mammals, land tortoises and sea turtles, protected birds, reptiles and amphibians. The trade on these websites is far from transparent; often the information is scarce and it cannot be determined whether animals and/or animal products are being offered for sale legally or illegally.
We also investigated the online portal "Marktplaats" which is one of eBay’s subsidiary sites in the Netherlands. Each day you can find around 8,000 offers of endangered species of wild birds alone.
In addition, we found 100 mammal products, including black bear skulls; stuffed seals and sperm whale teeth; more than 150 stuffed native birds and raptors; skins of the endangered panther, leopard, lynx and lion; and more than 200 illegal ivory products, including elephant feet! The professional illegal trade takes place primarily through mailing lists and secured websites, in contrast to the auction sites where, in more cases, unwitting private individuals are involved.
In just one month, at least 150 Dutch-language websites were found to be selling endangered species of mammals, land tortoises and sea turtles, protected birds, reptiles and amphibians. The trade on these websites is far from transparent; often the information is scarce and it cannot be determined whether animals and/or animal products are being offered for sale legally or illegally.
We also investigated the online portal "Marktplaats" which is one of eBay’s subsidiary sites in the Netherlands. Each day you can find around 8,000 offers of endangered species of wild birds alone.
In addition, we found 100 mammal products, including black bear skulls; stuffed seals and sperm whale teeth; more than 150 stuffed native birds and raptors; skins of the endangered panther, leopard, lynx and lion; and more than 200 illegal ivory products, including elephant feet! The professional illegal trade takes place primarily through mailing lists and secured websites, in contrast to the auction sites where, in more cases, unwitting private individuals are involved.
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CAUGHT IN THE WEB
Dutch Report 2006
The wildlife trade on Dutch websites is far from transparent; often the
information is scarce and it cannot be determined whether animals and/or animal
products are being offered for sale legally or illegally.
On "Marktplaats", one of eBay’s subsidiary sites in the Netherlands, each day you can find around 8,000 offers of endangered species of wild birds alone.
