There are many reasons to explain why some of the world's
species have become endangered. Habitats
have been lost to housing developments, food sources have become scarce due to
overfishing, and some animals are simply hunted to extinction. Now, conservationists are saying that technology
creates another threat – the Internet.
For years, some people have considered it "cool" or "elite"
to own animals like tigers and other rare species. Artifacts made from animals, like ivory taken
from the tusks of elephants, are also sought after. Jewelry is created from rare coral. Now these items, like just about anything
else, are commonly traded online.
The Internet offers many advantages to illegal sellers,
namely anonymity and a worldwide market.
The U.S. is the largest market with Europe not far behind.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) has members from 175 nations who met at the end of March in Doha, Qatar
to propose increased protection for endangered animals. At the convention, delegates
defeated several proposals including one to regulate the trade of red and pink
coral. The idea was dismissed due to concerns regarding possible declines in local
fishing trade in some areas. The next vote
will be on ivory.
Species Affected
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) conducted a
three-month survey in 2008 and found more than 7,000 species worth $3.8 million
sold online. This includes anything from
coral to lions to salamanders to birds and to fish. In addition to live animals, products are
created from the animals and sold; for example, wine created from tiger bones.
Some websites, such
as eBay, have banned the sale of ivory through their venues. How do you think this can be controlled?
Resources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8579310.stm
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=10160551
http://current.com/groups/animal-videos-and-news/89433698_want-a-chimp-endangered-animals-for-sale-online.htm
http://www.twitterthoughts.com/social-media-news-analyses/2010/3/31/can-social-media-help-save-endangered-species.html
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