PETALING JAYA: All it took was a simple search of social media platforms and Jay (not his real name) found the spiders he wanted to buy.
“Sellers usually don’t advertise the animals openly on the pages but instead comment with a link to an external source on the post.
“This would lead users to a group on external chat applications where sellers advertise the animals on sale, and in my case, it was spiders,” he said.
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Prospective buyers would then submit their bids for the animals they want, with payment and orders completed online.
Upon finding out that some of the spider species at the site are protected, Jay decided against buying any, noting the repercussions of such illegal trade.
For others, however, the heavy penalties put in place earlier for those caught keeping wildlife illegally don’t seem to be a deterrent.
A freelance writer, who declined to be named, said he reared a baby reticulated python that a friend found while cleaning the outside of their home.
He added that he discreetly reared the snake without a permit.Despite the legal repercussions, he said he did not feel guilty and wanted to continue keeping the snake as he cared for it.
“I have a passion for reptiles, and having the python was something I really wanted. When I had the opportunity, I snagged it right away,” he said.
Elizabeth John, who is the communications manager for wildlife trade watchdog Traffic, said the illegal online wildlife trade has been a concern for a long time, and one that began well before the Covid-19 pandemic and even continued through lockdowns.
“It has been observed on almost all popular social media platforms and occurs in chat groups and on ecommerce platforms.
“However, it is hard to say which platforms are most frequently used due to the existence of private groups or members-only chat groups,” she said.
She added that online traders are known to adapt and use new means of promoting illegal goods online by using keywords.
“Specifically, buyers are told to contact them (the sellers) separately,” she said, adding that consumer motivation to keep such wildlife varies greatly.
“Perhaps people are still unaware of the high penalties under the recently amended Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 or erroneously believe they will not be caught or punished for taking, keeping or using wildlife illegally,” she said.
On Feb 1 this year, amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act came into force, allowing for stiffer penalties of up to a RM1mil fine and 15 years in jail for anyone caught trading in protected wildlife.
