Facebook wildlife trade listings included more than 260,000 wildlife products across social media platforms from April 2024 to March 2026, researchers said in a new report cited by AFP.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime found more than 20,000 adverts for wildlife products, with nearly three-quarters appearing on Facebook.
AFP reviewed posts that included a dead pangolin offered by a Thai account selling “seasonal wild delicacies.”
The report by NGOs accused Meta of hosting what they called the world’s “largest single known illegal wildlife trade market.”
Meta declined to answer AFP’s questions and referred to policies that restrict the sale of endangered species on its platforms.
Russell Gray, a data scientist and ecologist who co-authored GI-TOC’s April report, said accounts and groups identified publicly in the research remained active.
Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, said he had not seen action after reporting illegal wildlife accounts.
Conservation investigator Daniel Stiles said Facebook and Instagram monetisation tools may encourage illegal activity by rewarding high-engagement accounts.
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Wildlife products appeared across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. It also said traffickers increasingly use TikTok and Snapchat.
Meta was among 11 tech firms that announced this month they would work to eliminate wildlife trafficking online.
Freeland founder Steve Galster said the trade would worsen unless Meta removed illegal wildlife sales and showed it did not profit from them.
