Stanlee Fazi, a Virginia man, plead guilty to trafficking in turtles in a scheme that netted him over $12,000 from illegally collecting and exporting Eastern box turtles. According to The New York Times, Mr. Fazi bound the turtles in socks and shipped them via FedEx from Virginia to buyers in the United States and in Asia. This illegal scheme contributed to the decline of the Eastern box turtle populations in the United States, all in the name of making money through pet trade.
Eastern Box Turtles are in high demand in Asia, and this has fueled an international pet trade that conservationists refer to as “The Asian turtle crisis.” The trade is made worse by the pandemic, as people sought exotic pets while spending more time at home. And due to the ease of conducting online transactions, illicit traders often find social media platforms, such as Facebook marketplace, an easy way to connect with potential buyers.
Endangered Species, Pet Trade, and Human Rights
Wildlife trafficking of endangered species is not only a crime against nature, but a crime against humanity as it violates basic human rights. This is because illegal wildlife trade often harms communities living in poverty in developing countries, where the trade is conducted. Additionally, the illegal pet trade is causing some species to become endangered. Endangered species are not commodities but living beings that have intrinsic value and contribute to ecosystems by stabilizing food chains, pollinating plants, and enhancing biodiversity. Thus, when we trade them, we not only contribute to their extinction, but we also degrade fragile ecosystems that support the livelihoods of marginalized communities worldwide. Such marginazliation raises further human rights issues; many communities rely on biodiversity in their ecosystems as a source of medicine, food, and cultural identity. Therefore, we harm not only endangered species but also humans and our interaction with the environment when we engage in the illegal trade of wildlife.
The Role of Social Media
The trade in endangered species thrives on social media platforms, which illicit traders use to connect with buyers, post pictures of exotic pets, and conduct transactions. Social media platforms have a responsibility to regulate the trade; however, the efforts to prevent such crimes are often inadequate. The regulation should include better algorithms for detecting posts related to illegal wildlife trade, cooperation with law enforcement in investigations, and transparency in identifying and removing accounts promoting such trade. The Facebook marketplace, for example, has policies against the sale of live animals, but given the ease of bypassing regulations by using emojis or code-replaces, more can be done to prevent trafficking activities.
Conclusion and Editorial
The illegal trade in endangered species is a global problem that requires attention and action from authorities, international organizations, and individuals alike. The trade contributes to the extinction of valuable species, poverty for vulnerable communities, and a degraded environment. The case of Stanlee Fazi signals an urgent need for the tightening of the regulatory framework against illegal trade of wildlife and adequate implementation of such laws. Furthermore, the public education and cultural transformation toward an ethical and sustainable use of wildlife are necessary to reduce the demand for exotic pets. While social media has a considerable role to play in regulating the trade, it is only a small step towards creating a sustainable and humane relationship with nature. The change should start with recognizing the intrinsic value of all living beings and their contribution to ecological balance.
<< photo by Gregoire Jeanneau >>