Illegal wildlife trade is a topic that doesn’t come up in normal conversations. But when you think about it, you probably assume it is buried deep in the digital underworld. However, most of the wildlife trade is hiding in plain sight. A recent study has discovered thousands of dark web listings with illegal animal and plant sales. However, the hotspot for all sales is not hidden at all. Most of these trades are not for animals, but for Psychoactive plants. Keep on reading to discover more about it.
The Wildlife Trade Isn’t Where You’d Expect it to be
From 2014 to 2020, researchers tracked over 3,000 ads for wildlife products on the dark web. Most listings focused on psychoactive plants and fungi—like the DMT-rich Mimosa tenuiflora and psilocybin mushrooms—rather than animals. Despite expectations, animal trafficking was found to be minimal in these hidden corners of the internet.
Instead, traffickers seem to prefer visibility. Platforms like social media, forums, and general e-commerce sites host everything from endangered parrots to rhino horn and even rare beetles. With global regulations like CITES covering fewer than 5% of species in trade, enforcement gaps are easy to exploit.
Why Cracking Down on Wildlife Trade Remains Complex
Australia is leading efforts to increase digital surveillance of wildlife sales, but there’s a catch: pushing traffickers off open platforms could drive them further into the dark web. As authorities tighten control on mainstream sites, the illicit market risks becoming harder to track—not easier.
The findings raise urgent questions about global regulatory consistency and enforcement. If the goal is to stop illegal wildlife trade, cracking down on one platform or space won’t be enough. A coordinated, tech-savvy approach that covers both open and dark web environments is essential.
The keyword isn’t secrecy—it’s accessibility. And the most dangerous wildlife trade might be happening right under our noses.
