Digital predation: scale, drivers and conservation implications of illegal online trade in raptors in Pakistan

Khalid, Z., Chaudhry, M.J.I., Singh, T., Fatima, S., Khan, F. and Murn, C. (2026) Digital predation: scale, drivers and conservation implications of illegal online trade in raptors in Pakistan. Oryx. ISSN 0030-6053 (In Press)

Abstract/Summary

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a major driver of biodiversity loss, and online platforms are increasingly used to advertise protected wildlife. In Pakistan, raptor trade is increasingly mediated by online marketplaces, reflecting a wider global transition. As a case study, we assessed the online trade in raptors in Pakistan from January 2021 to December 2023 by monitoring Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, WhatsApp groups, and local e-commerce sites using keyword-based searches and 20 cross-checking procedures to reduce duplication and misidentification. We recorded 310 raptors advertised for sale from 92 seller accounts, representing 24 species across four families. Falconidae comprised 61.0% of individuals and Accipitridae 37.1%, with Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) among the most frequently advertised species. A substantial proportion of listings involved species protected under provincial wildlife legislation, as well as 25 species listed under CITES and classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Using a generalized linear model, we found that asking prices were higher for threatened and visitor species. Seller activity was concentrated in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Facebook accounted for the largest share of records, indicating that improved monitoring and enforcement on this platform is a priority. Our findings provide baseline evidence to support demand-reduction outreach, community reporting, and 30 capacity building within wildlife agencies, alongside improved online detection tools and updated assessments of raptor population status in Pakistan, particularly for migratory species using the Central Asian Flyway (CAF).

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/129427
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
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