• • • • • •

KEY points: La monitored websites. most advertisements on the top with the three Box Chinese are the Yellow Pond Turtle and illegally. Turtle, Coin Golden throughtraded websites arespecies thought to be So APPs. and second-hand trade handicraftChinese APPs streaming APPs, traditional such as: short video emergingin new channels, productswildlife are found Ad enforcement more difficult. monitoring and law text, makes which market include any key words or productswildlife didn’t advertisements of illegal online community, lots of In s Co 2012-2016; declined 73%compared to month on website platforms advertisements every of product wildlife new 2018, t of 2017- period the During trade. channels for wildlife illegal platforms and new identify ofsupervision Internet strengthen toneed further declined by 22%. 25%, and daily active users platformsmedia declinedby advertisements on social average number of daily TRAFFIC March 2019 March w enforcement agencies me and ’ mpared with 2017,2018’s vertisements of illegal BRIEFING ocial media and media the ocial

he average number the launchthe of “Coalition the to End Wildlife TraffickingOnline”. Twenty-one Internet in trade. ThisAlliancefurther taken wildlife wasMarch on focus illegal with 2018 Internet Companies Alliance) (the inNovember first 2017,the of globally kindto its (BAT), together with eight other Internet companies, launching Alliance the of Chinese Private responses sector have made progress, also with Baidu, and Alibaba Tencent facilitation online of trade. wildlife illegal the liability defined Chinese of Internet companies regardingtheir potentialrolesthe in on the Protection of Wildlife came, which into effect on January 1,2017, officially efforts to combat Law Therevised cybercrimes. of wildlife the People’s Republic of between 2017 and 2018 marksperiod The an importanttransition forChina’s regulatory products 2016;People.com.cn, (Dahe.cn, inChina 2017). confiscations several of hundredkilograms of ivory, rhino horn wildlife and illegal other have trade wildlife pursued been by China’s law enforcement authorities, resulting in buyers through couriers and providers. logistics regarding cases Criminal online illegal productswildlife continue and online advertised totraded and be delivered then to law enforcement agencies. past the two years, Over monitoring this shows that illegal on online on trade aregular basis, and sharing monitoring the results with relevant watch on and trade the consumption trend wildlife, of conducting illegal monitoring and Xu, et al., 2015;Xiao 2017;Zhaoet al., 2017).TRAFFICkeeping has been aclose majorthe platforms for products wildlife of and sale illegal the (Xiao Wang, 2015;Guan channels for commerce, illegal with various websites having media and become social While having made people’s life more convenient, internet the provided has also new I.BACKGROUND channels new identify for trade. wildlife illegal law enforcement strengthen of agency to further supervision Internet platforms and illegally. The report’s findings showed the trends trade,wildlife ofillegal urging online emerging APPs. Some Chelonian are species thought through traded websites to be showed also thatsurvey advertisements products wildlife of illegal are found in new could greatly increase difficulty the of market monitoring and law enforcement. The and media online communitysocial without any key words or text were detected, which by 22%.However, increasing numbers of advertisements products wildlife of illegal on number of daily advertisements declinedby 25%,and average daily active users declined compared platforms, media to 2012-2016.Onsocial compared with 2017,2018’s average product wildlife new month advertisements every on website platforms declined73% . The result showedthat the of2017-2018, period theduring average number of second-hand trade, traditional handicraft Chinese trade and websites on live focused to scope online communities, 2017-2018survey the APPs related to short stream, video website platforms that media andhave social monitored been past, inthe we expanded wildlife, conducting monitoring on online on trade aregular basis. In addition to the TRAFFIC keeping has been watch aclose on and trade the consumption trend of illegal EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Weihua Xin,YuXiao Online MonitoringResults2017-2018 WILDLIFE CYBERCRIMETRENDSINCHINA 1 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 2 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER recommendations for strengthening years inthe to policy come. general public understand to fully current the status onlineand inChina of trade wildlife provide illegal of online monitoring, aiming to help government Chinese the and relevant online companies, as well as the of products wildlife becoming available on Chinese-language the internet. TRAFFIC has expanded its scope grow rapidly, channels new for online continue trade wildlife to emerge, intandem with an increasing variety on topicand this surveys continued in2017 and 2018.As online commerce and communication platforms on trade someillegal websites platforms media and social in fromChina 2012 to 2016. monitoringRegular TRAFFIC published two reports on China’s online in2015and trade wildlife 2017,respectively, documenting reduce availability the on trade wildlife online oftheir platforms illegal by 80%by 2020. Leopard Stigmochelys pardalisLeopard carbonaria Tortoise G. footed 1 each advertisement. in videos photos andof species, number specific recorded products, and the related advertisements to endangered wildlife suspected the screened all basis, on 58 accounts on adaily posted the advertisements the investigators all checked the monitoring, each During to aFacebook (a accounts user’s media process similar timeline).social homepage 58 of the productssharing on posted the wildlife of per month illegal advertisements on the twice products were2017 Since identified. July 2018,to December conducted has routine monitoring TRAFFIC wildlife have 58 accounts that on advertisements and posted illegal accounts, media social on these survey 2017,April monitored number 287. of these the totaled accounts 2017, April In conducted apre- TRAFFIC as of andcontinued products to formonitoractivity; sale wildlife online illegal of offering suspected of those accounts media added social systematically TRAFFIC markets, physical and monitoring of the online During 2.2 Socialmediaandonlinecommunities of 118total monitoring survey. online TRAFFIC’s were in keywords used (or itsabbreviation form, and skin” XP, Pi, end of As of the Chinese) 2018, one Xiang in as keywords. of the a to used foundproduceincluded elephant’s was it Buddha TRAFFIC bracelets, skin after “elephant’sinstance, products. For weresomewildlife of 2017keywords added in trading new 2018 and illegal the reflect to better noted, “advertisements” productrefer hereinafter advertisements”,NWPAs). to wildlife otherwise “new new Six product (NWPAs) advertisements number of month new the products recording (unless wildlife and every wildlife illegal routine monitoring on of for the based 31 keywords specific websites by Chinese searching al., et study (Xiao this in appliedwas report last TRAFFIC’s in used methodology same The 2.1 Onlineplatforms shared with relevant law enforcement agencies and online platform operators for actions. further imbricata APPs include: Elephants Elephantidae andtrade websites on live focused reptiles.target The monitored species on websites,media and social and media, APPssocial have which media coveredand been social last inthe to report, scope other TRAFFIC expanded its survey monitoring, trade wildlife compared and analysed with datathe in 2012-2016. In collected addition to websites This study thedatabased on is collected fromby TRAFFIC January 2018 2017December illegal online to of II.SURVEY METHODOLOGY companies turtle turtle flavomarginata on Appendices the of CITES.Speciesincluded: Turtle Coin Golden trifasciata Cuora trading websites included Chelonian listed species as Key Protected at National in andChina Level Whale and Narwhal, Physeter microcephalus and Monodon Monoceros. Target monitored species on Leopard, Leopard and Clouded Leopard, Panthera uncia, Panthera pardus, Neofelis nebulosi, Whales Sperm There are 24 companies by February 2019. February by companies 24 are There M. nigricans, Radiated Tortoise , Helmeted Hornbill vigil Rhinoplax 1 from North andAmerica Asia make up which has Coalition, the pledged to work together to , Amboina Turtle Box C.amboinensis, Yellow Pond turtle mutica , Red-necked Pond related to short stream, video second-hand trade, traditional handicraft Chinese , Aldabra Giant Tortoise G.gigantean, Hermann’s Tortoise hermanni and Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata , Rhinos Rhinocerotidae, Rhinos radiataAstrochelys , Saiga antelope tatarica Saiga , African Spurred, African Tortoise sulcata , Tiger Panthera tigris , Pangolins Manidae . All the findingsthe . All have been , Hawksbill Eretmochelys , Chinese Box , Chinese C. Snow , Leopards Snow 2017), is which , Red- , two years occurred in October 2018, when the number the 2018,when two years inOctober of occurred advertisements was recorded only to be 108. rebounded and reached of its 794inApril peak 2018,and dropped then again. The lowestpoint pastwithinthe with monthly average advertisements of 406.The number of NWPAs 2017, October fell to 171inbutlater 2018 isto shown December in Figure 1. Atotal of 9,737 NWPAs were recorded during 24 month the period, trendThe forthe number of NWPAs the on online platformsper monthfrom period theduring January 2017 3.1 Websitemonitoringresults III. RESULTS traded illegally. being potentially record species Chelonian and the to seven days identify websitesreptile-focused within on posted seven advertisements the all July from to period September 2018, the examined During TRAFFIC section. Results the in be presentedin more detail will methodologies survey specific of platform, each the characteristics unique the appliedseparately.was periods specific However, in number posted of advertisements the recording and due to searching of the methodology videostreams, and short handicraft Chinese for APPsAs the related to traditional by a screening human. species following specific the number and of advertisements to record and the trade, online on monitored illegal keywords the by TRAFFIC with seven days within posted APPs of the related used survey second-hand foris forsearch to to trade advertisements The methodology platforms. products on these wildlife illegal of trade the platforms to understand online conducted on emerging other apre-survey addition, TRAFFIC In 2.3 Otheronlineplatforms to record number of NWPAs the per month. browsing targeted through and keywords by searching forums online on these conducted surveys TRAFFIC Tiger Antelope. November Since Large Saiga suchBone, group as and names 2018, products, with wildlife illegal involved aretrade of that in forums screened 72 online TRAFFIC pre-surveys, Through TCM, etc. and handicraft Chinese of traditional forums online on advertisements the product sale wildlife illegal post sellers their interests.Somehobbiesand on depending forums together people different bring in online communities Such occasion. on this community world’s on Chinese the conducted online asurvey largest TRAFFIC Helmeted hornbills 2017-2018 2012-2016 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 2500 1000 1500 2000 Helmeted hornbills 500 500 Saiga antelopes 0 Saiga antelopes 0 0 Hawksbills Elephants Pangolins Leopards 201701 35% Hawksbills Whales Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Rhinos Pangolins Elephants Jul-1 2012 Tigers Leopards 201702 Whales 46% Rhinos all Tigers oo mgs&vdo oo d No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images&videos

Aug-1 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Figure 1.NWPAs on online platforms month per during 2017-2018 201703 2087 0101020250 200 150 100 50 0 2017 Spetl-1 201704 1 0 1 1 3 2 5 11 9 12

0321 0521 072018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201705 4% Ovt-1 15 0 28 1 201706

5 Nov-1 5% 1189 3% 36 3% 33 4% Elephants 12 201707 15 Dec-1 52.4% 20 20 23 201708 63.1% Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos

eebrNovember December Jan-1

36 201709 73 73 01010200 150 100 50 Feb-1 1544 201710 91 Mar-1 201711 0% 3% 116 201712 Apr-1 total Rhinos

1742 201801 0% 1% May-1 201802

2018 Jun-1 201803 33.2% Jul-1 Whales Saiga antelope Tiger 201804 18.1% 932 201805 Aug-1 201806

Others Saiga Antelope Leopards Pangolins Whales Hawksbill Helmeted Hombill Tiger Rhinos Elephants Sep-1 201807

Oct-1 372

234 201808 Nov-1 201809

180 Dec-1 201810

439 201811 281 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 300 201812 3 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 4 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER be morebe difficult toidentifyonline. products have increased by comparison, possibly as it attracts less law enforcement attention and may advertisements ivory posting advertisements while for rhino horn and other endangered species began to implement commercial the ban at trade ivory end the of have 2017.Some sellers stopped elephant products, proportional the reduction is possibly due that to government fact the Chinese the 2017 and 2018(Figure 3).Although major the proportion of advertisements dominated is still by 2012anddeclined from between between 2016 to 63.1%during52.4% during period the from 2012to proportion 2016,the of advertisements on elephant products advertisements the inall has By comparing targetthe involved species advertisements in illegal during 2017-2018 with previous data who haveThose posted information suchillegal are required to deletepossible!”soon as as on products. wildlife The offenders be held shall responsible for any consequencearising therefrom. warning message was(Figure posted 2),declaring that “strictly they prohibit any of posting information internet companies to pay more attention to information. handlingtrade wildlife illegal Afterwards, a in August 2018,highlighting importance the of regulating online the markets and demanding those law enforcement agencies held urgent meetings with internet the companies hosting websites those resurgencethe advertisements of illegal on websites. those With support the of TRAFFIC, relevant the human resource capacity and on focus education user regarding illegality, which has likely influenced noticed that some Internet companies are (which not members of Alliance) the have reduced their improve capacitytheir and efficiency of handling informationwildlife trade.TRAFFIC illegal on has trade. Meanwhile, TRAFFIC has organized training workshops for members the of Alliance the to other Internet Chinese companies to launch Alliance the and jointly combat online wildlife illegal andidentify shield against advertisements for products. illegal In November 2017,BAT worked with past the few years,Over some major websites have established routine monitoring mechanisms to websites and to them delete guided rhino suspected horn the advertisements inatimely manner. products accounts. on media owntheir social TRAFFIC has already communicated with relevantthe rhino horn advertisements on websites the to attract attention from buyers and promote wildlife their ones from photos alone. By advantage taking of ambiguity, this some alarge post sellers number of products,ivory difficult it is very for website managers to distinguish genuine rhino horns fromfake number2018, the of rhino product advertisements that exceeded for products. ivory Compared with 2017 to early 2018was due to increase the of rhino product advertisements. In most of months the in The major behindthe reason rebound forthe number of NWPAsfrom the endperiod theduring of Figure 2.Message to warning (text posted remove sellers inthe wildlife advertisements for illegal Pop-up Box of Figure) and keywords sample et withinal., survey the (Xiao 2017). number of NWPAs in2014-2015 could have due to been increased number the of monitored websites number of advertisements recorded in2017-2018is only 1/5of that in2012(Figure 4).The rebound in that despite some of rebounds the in2014and overall 2015,the trend shown infigure 3 is declining. The By checking annual the number of NWPAs on posted monitored websites since 2012,it found can be Figure 3.Proportion of different inNWPAsproducts species 2012 between and 2016, periods during the Helmeted hornbills Helmeted hornbills 2017-2018 2017-2018 2012-2016 2012-2016 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 100 900 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 1000 1500 2000 1000 2500 1500 2000 2500 Helmeted hornbills Helmeted hornbills 500 500 500 500 Saiga antelopes Saiga antelopes 0 0 Saiga antelopes Saiga antelopes 0 0 0 0 Hawksbills Hawksbills Elephants Elephants Pangolins Pangolins Leopards Leopards 201701 201701 35% 35% Hawksbills Hawksbills Whales Whales Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Rhinos Rhinos Pangolins Pangolins Elephants Elephants Jul-1 Jul-1 2012 2012 Tigers Tigers Leopards Leopards 201702 201702 Whales Whales 46% 46% Rhinos Rhinos all all Tigers Tigers oo mgs&vdo oo d No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images&videos No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images &videos

Aug-1 Aug-1 100% 80% 60% 40% 100% 20% 80% 0% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Figure 4.Average NWPAs of on online platforms during 2012-2018 201703 201703 2087 2087 0101020250 200 150 100 250 50 200 150 0 100 50 0 2017 Spetl-1 2017 Spetl-1 201704 201704 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 3 3 2 2 5 5 11 11 9 9 12 12

0321 0521 072018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2018 2013 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201705 201705 4% 4% Ovt-1 Ovt-1 15 15 0 0 28 28 1 1 201706 201706

5 5 Nov-1 Nov-1 5% 5% 1189 1189 3% 3% 36 36 3% 3% 33 33 4% 4% Elephants Elephants 12 12 201707 201707 15 15 Dec-1 Dec-1 52.4% 52.4% 20 20 20 20 23 23

and between 2017and 2018 and between 201708 201708 63.1% 63.1% Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos

eebrNovember December November December Jan-1 Jan-1

36 36 201709 201709 73 73 73 73 01010200 150 100 200 50 150 100 50 1544 Feb-1 Feb-1 1544 201710 201710 91 91 Mar-1 Mar-1 201711 201711 0% 0% 3% 3% 116 116 201712 201712 Apr-1 Apr-1 total Rhinos total Rhinos

1742 1742 201801 201801 0% 0% 1% 1% May-1 May-1 201802 201802

2018 Jun-1 2018 Jun-1 201803 201803 33.2% 33.2% Jul-1 Jul-1 Whales Saiga antelope Tiger Whales Saiga antelope Tiger 201804 201804 18.1% 18.1% 932 932 201805 201805 Aug-1 Aug-1 201806 201806

Others Saiga Antelope Leopards Pangolins Whales Hawksbill Others Helmeted Hombill Saiga Antelope Tiger Leopards Rhinos Pangolins Elephants Whales Hawksbill Helmeted Hombill Tiger Rhinos Elephants Sep-1 Sep-1 201807 201807 372 Oct-1 Oct-1 372

234 234 201808 201808 Nov-1 Nov-1 201809 201809

180 180 Dec-1 Dec-1 201810 201810

439 439 201811 201811 281 281 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 300 300 201812 201812 5 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 6 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER and reduce number the advertisements wildlife of on illegal online markets. for 65.7%of total the number, law enforcement actions against can sellers help these effectively control handicraftsellers. collection theSince number of advertisementpostings theby topsellers accounts 10 (Figure are 6),which associated that with fact the most of accounts the monitored by TRAFFIC are The advertisement accounts media postings social on were dominated by ivory and rhino horn products advertisement in2018showed in2017,those postings adecline. an average of 18daily active users. Compared with average the number of daily active users and 2017 reached 273,with an average of 23daily active users and number the in2018was 204, with In terms of average daily advertisements, July number the between during period and the December of firstin the survey Novemberthewhen 2018, recorded number of advertisements was only 105. May 31,and had some impact on reducing number the of during posts The that lowest period. point occurred The “Campaign of Spring Thunder 2018” was carried out the by police forestry authority between 1 April and holidays. in first the During survey April 2018, however,the number of advertisementpostings surged to 356. and of delivery products during is more that posted period so less sellers such difficult, information during the companies suspend operations during New the Year holidays (western and lunar Chinese calendars); purchasing product advertisements to some extent. In addition, many manufacturing companies and couriers and logistics products. wildlife of illegal Meanwhile, commercial the ban has trade ivory reduced of posting the ivory launchthe of Alliance the having prompted operators media some social to crack down against posting the number of advertisements was at alow level from November 2017to March 2018.Thispartly was due to advertisements tended July to between decline during period the 2017 and 2018 (Figure December 5). The Routine monitoring by accounts media TRAFFIC on 58social found the that number the and of frequency 3.2.1 Socialmedia 3.2 Socialnetworkmonitoringresults Helmeted hornbills 2017-2018 2012-2016 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Figure 5. No. of illegal wildlife ads, images & videos and daily active users monitored on social media monitored active users and daily media onFigure ads,images&videos social 5.No. wildlife of illegal 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 2500 1000 1500 2000 Helmeted hornbills 500 500 Saiga antelopes 0 Saiga antelopes 0 0 Hawksbills Elephants Pangolins Leopards 201701 35% Hawksbills Whales Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Rhinos Pangolins Elephants Jul-1 2012 Tigers Leopards 201702 Whales 46% Rhinos all Tigers oo mgs&vdo oo d No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images&videos Aug-1 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 201703 2087 accounts from 2017 to 2018 (data collected on 36 individual days)accounts fromon 36individual 2017to 2018(data collected 0101020250 200 150 100 50 0 2017 Spetl-1 201704 1 0 1 1 3 2 5 11 9 12

0321 0521 072018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201705 4% Ovt-1 15 0 28 1 201706

5 Nov-1 5% 1189 3% 36 3% 33 4% Elephants 12 201707 15 Dec-1 52.4% 20 20 23 201708 63.1% Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos

eebrNovember December Jan-1

36 201709 73 73 01010200 150 100 50 Feb-1 1544 201710 91 Mar-1 201711 0% 3% 116 201712 Apr-1 total Rhinos

1742 201801 0% 1% May-1 201802

2018 Jun-1 201803 33.2% Jul-1 Whales Saiga antelope Tiger 201804 18.1% 932 201805 Aug-1 201806

Others Saiga Antelope Leopards Pangolins Whales Hawksbill Helmeted Hombill Tiger Rhinos Elephants Sep-1 201807

Oct-1 372

234 201808 Nov-1 201809

180 Dec-1 201810

439 201811 281 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 300 201812 online community or after havethey exchanged accounts. media social websites, allowing potential the buyers to communicate through with sellers the instant messaging tools inthe advertisementsposting without text can result not inthem by detected being investigations conducted on the products, wildlife identify and can sellers the attract buyers experienced by only using photos. This practice of same interests are often brought sametogetherthe in online familiarthey forum,withare andcan easilyvery 8). Such advertisements might not ifonly detected be searched by keywords with software. peopleAs withthe advertisements found online inthe community donot contain keywords, or evenany text description (Figure TRAFFIC’s pre-survey found that, similar to situation the titles and the media, text on of social many 3.2.2 Onlinecommunity onlinethe platforms. done inan attempt to get attention the buyers of experienced and to avoid detection by running those reference and tospecies, wildlife sometimes the donot any use text description at (Figure all 7).This is things”, or “For advertisements. sale“ post they when use They an graphic emojiwhentyping a It was noticed that increasingly only media generic use terms on sellers as “Have social alook”, “Good Helmeted hornbills 2017-2018 2012-2016 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 2500 1000 1500 2000 Helmeted hornbills 500 500 Saiga antelopes 0 Saiga antelopes 0 0 Figure 7.Advertisements using emojis to refer and advertisements to without using wildlife Hawksbills Figure2017-2018 accounts 6.Proportion by species media of advertisements insocial Elephants Pangolins Leopards 201701 35% Hawksbills Whales Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Rhinos Pangolins Elephants Jul-1 2012 Tigers Leopards 201702 Whales 46% Rhinos all Tigers oo mgs&vdo oo d No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images&videos Aug-1 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 201703 2087 0101020250 200 150 100 50 0 2017 Spetl-1 201704 1 0 1 1 3 2 5 11 9 12

0321 0521 072018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201705 4% Ovt-1 15 0 28 1 201706

5 Nov-1 5% 1189 3% 36 3% 33 4% Elephants 12 201707 15 Dec-1 52.4% 20 20 23 201708 63.1% Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos words in social media words insocial

eebrNovember December Jan-1

36 201709 73 73 01010200 150 100 50 Feb-1 1544 201710 91 Mar-1 201711 0% 3% 116 201712 Apr-1 total Rhinos

1742 201801 0% 1% May-1 201802

2018 Jun-1 201803 33.2% Jul-1 Whales Saiga antelope Tiger 201804 18.1% 932 201805 Aug-1 201806

Others Saiga Antelope Leopards Pangolins Whales Hawksbill Helmeted Hombill Tiger Rhinos Elephants Sep-1 201807

Oct-1 372

234 201808 Nov-1 201809

180 Dec-1 201810

439 201811 281 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 300 201812 7 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 8 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER forums and of banned use the some accounts. by cetaceans. According to feedback from online the community operators, have they down closed some online (Figure 10). In terms of products species, from elephants, rhinos and tiger are most the significant, still followed (Figure 9).Some users were active alarge inposting especially number product wildlife of illegal advertisements The number of NWPAsthe in communityonline was 234in Novembersurvey 2018 2018 December and 281in Helmeted hornbills 2017-2018 2012-2016 Figure productadvertisements on month 9.No. per theonline community by wildlife species of illegal 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 2500 1000 1500 2000 Helmeted hornbills 500 500 Saiga antelopes 0 Saiga antelopes 0 0 Hawksbills Elephants Pangolins Leopards 201701 35% Figure 8.Advertisements not do contain which any text inonline community Hawksbills Whales Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Rhinos Pangolins Elephants Jul-1 2012 Tigers Leopards 201702 Whales 46% Rhinos all Tigers oo mgs&vdo oo d No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images&videos Aug-1 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 201703 2087 0101020250 200 150 100 50 0 2017 Spetl-1 201704 1 0 1 1 3 2 5 11 9 12

0321 0521 072018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201705 4% Ovt-1 15 0 28 1 201706

5 Nov-1 5% 1189 3% 36 3% 33 4% Elephants 12 201707 15 Dec-1 52.4% 20 20 (November- 2018) December 23 201708 63.1% Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos

eebrNovember December Jan-1

36 201709 73 73 01010200 150 100 50 Feb-1 1544 201710 91 Mar-1 201711 0% 3% 116 201712 Apr-1 total Rhinos

1742 201801 0% 1% May-1 201802

2018 Jun-1 201803 33.2% Jul-1 Whales Saiga antelope Tiger 201804 18.1% 932 201805 Aug-1 201806

Others Saiga Antelope Leopards Pangolins Whales Hawksbill Helmeted Hombill Tiger Rhinos Elephants Sep-1 201807

Oct-1 372

234 201808 Nov-1 201809

180 Dec-1 201810

439 201811 281 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 300 201812 cannot eliminated. be products wildlife illegal have identifiedso far, been possibilitythe selling of such productsthrough the APP passively receive recommended videos the by APP the according to interests. their Although no contents on In another APP related to short stream, video no relevant accounts have found, been and researchers can only usersina1:1“private linked trading between message”. survey,the some people were found to ask for aprice comment inthe indicating section possibility ahigh of instance, on avideo hornbill products at 3,135times viewed of hastime the been writing (Figure 11).During products. products wildlife on Some videos illegal APP inthe have more viewed been than For 1,000times. recommended to, already to subscribed those similar videos including somerelated videos wildlife to illegal helmeted hornbill products. research TRAFFIC used accounts users.the Afterwards, toAPP to these subscribe onof videos users post mammoth the products, ivory some of are postings the related to ivory, rhino horn or searched, can be videos without of function the searching titles or the comments While of most videos). these In one of APPs, the 16users were identifiedwiththe keyword of “Ivorycarving” (only thename user these of searching information with pre-defined keywords. In 2018, TRAFFIC researchers registered accounts on two APP platforms related to short streams, video 3.3.1 APPsrelatedtoshortvideostream 3.3 Otheronlineplatformsmonitoringresults Figure 11. Screenshot of a video on hornbill products which has been viewed 3,135 times as a short video stream 3,135times asashort video viewed on hasbeen hornbillFigure productswhich of 11.Screenshot avideo Figure 10.Users products have wildlife who alot of posted advertisements on illegal 9 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 10 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER advertisements may be less than four times the number of advertisements viewed within the last seven days. seven last the within viewed advertisements of number the times monthly four of number than less be may actual the and advertisements updated, then and ago days seven sale on put been have that commodities include may period day aseven over viewed ments selling products,selling including products. wildlife illegal (Figure 13). towillingness recruit others products, their to sell may who APP the as use away to create channels new for products. In addition, some include sellers wording the of “recruitment agent” name, user intheir showed their second-handThe trade generally featurestransfer personal of items, butsome sellers were found varioussell to major websites networks. and social 2 hawksbill, tiger, rhino and products whale of days seven (Figure 12).Ivory products made up highest the number of advertisements (180)followed by There were 312advertisements wildlife productspostedillegal of twosecond-handon trade APPs period over a 3.3.2 APPsrelatedtosecond-handtrade TRAFFIC learned from APP operators that sellers can update a commodity to keep its advertisements being easily viewed by buyers. For this reason, the advertise- the reason, this For buyers. by viewed easily being advertisements its keep to acommodity update can sellers that operators APP from learned TRAFFIC Figure 12. No. of advertisements on illegal wildlife products posted within seven daysFigure inan seven 12.No.APP within related productsposted to wildlife of advertisements on illegal Helmeted hornbills 2017-2018 2012-2016 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 1000 1500 2000 2500 Helmeted hornbills 500 500 Saiga antelopes 0 Saiga antelopes 0 0 Hawksbills Elephants Pangolins Leopards 201701 35% Hawksbills Whales Pangolins Hawksbill Elephants Rhinos Pangolins Elephants Jul-1 2012 Tigers Leopards

Figure 13. Suspected seller of illegal wildlife productson asecond-hand wildlife of illegal seller Figure 13.Suspected 201702 Whales 46% Rhinos all Tigers oo mgs&vdo oo d No.ofactiveusers No.ofads No.of images&videos Aug-1 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 201703 2087 0101020250 200 150 100 50 0 2017 Spetl-1 201704 1 0 1 1 3 2 5 11 9 12

0321 0521 072018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 201705 4% Ovt-1 15 0 28 1 201706

5 Nov-1 5% 1189 3% 36 3% 33 4% Elephants 12 201707 15 Dec-1 52.4% 20 20 23 2 201708 . This result is essentially consistent findingswiththe on survey 63.1% Leopards Helmeted hornbill Rhinos second-hand trading second-hand

eebrNovember December Jan-1

36 201709 73 73 trading APP 01010200 150 100 50 Feb-1 1544 201710 91 Mar-1 201711 0% 3% 116 201712 Apr-1 total Rhinos

1742 201801 0% 1% May-1 201802

2018 Jun-1 201803 33.2% Jul-1 Whales Saiga antelope Tiger 201804 18.1% 932 201805 Aug-1 201806

Others Saiga Antelope Leopards Pangolins Whales Hawksbill Helmeted Hombill Tiger Rhinos Elephants Sep-1 201807

Oct-1 372

234 201808 Nov-1 201809

180 Dec-1 201810

439 201811 281 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 300 201812 (or any enforcement officers) the source identify toexactly speciesthe of on live reptile websites. populationwild of is protected two the species law. under Chinese However, difficult it is very for researchers captive the Because breeding Turtle of Box Chinese and Yellow Pond Turtle successful, only the very has been Turtle and Turtle, Box Chinese have largest the number of advertisements, accounting for more than 90%. liveselling reptiles is shown inTablethree 1.TheChelonian namely, species, CoinGolden Turtle, Yellow Pond The number of advertisements containingChelonian targetthe species, monitoredseven inwebsites species, 3.3.4 Monitoringoflivereptilewebsites elephantbe and ivory description the this confirmed suspicion. also of “mammoth ivory”. The words indicatedwith “’mammoth’” and “mammoth xuèyá” (Figure 14) may actually product and one hawksbill product on APP. the It should noted be that mightname some inthe sold “ivory” be guiding potential the buyers to media APP. the from social TRAFFIC found products, 10ivory one pangolin hyperlink the auctioning. media APP inthe or can on post Sellers photos social their containing aQR so code, Another APP featuring auctioning the of traditional handicrafts Chinese function the has of bidding and product whale sperm were recorded. days;within seven products, 10ivory four hawksbill products, turtle one helmeted hornbill product and one APPthe and found sixaccounts advertisements posted products wildlife on illegal on sharing their homepages sellers’ accounts. media social TRAFFIC monitored 16such sellers’ accounts media social recommended by One of APPs the targets users interested intraditional handicrafts Chinese and provides contact details of productswildlife were for selected investigation. TRAFFIC has browsed many APPs related to traditional handicrafts Chinese andtwo APPs withillegal dealing 3.3.3 APPsrelatedtotraditionalChinesehandicrafts Figure 14. The term mammoth ivory is used in traditional Chinese handicraft handicraft APPsChinese Figure in traditional 14.The isused term to mammoth ivory refer toivory modern 11 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 12 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER between seller and seller buyer,between makes which media, it difficultactivities. trace or to such trade social hidden via would leave mobile their phone numbers accounts media or social for tradingprocessed to using be 1:1contact forum wherespecial products are offered the on website) are traded on such websitesthemselves, manysellers population.a wild note Ofparticular is that apart from that fact the products the Zone (a Self-Operated inthe Additionally, some advertisements stated “turtles from mountains” (Figure 15),implying that came they from Table 1:No. on of live advertisements reptile websites by species Hawksbill Turtle Sea Amboina Turtle Box Red-footed Tortoise Name of the species Latin names Latin Name of species the Coin Golden Hermann’s Tortoise Box Chinese Yellow Pond Turtle Red-necked Pond Radiated TortoiseRadiated Leopard African SpurredAfrican Aldabra Giant Tortoise Tortoise Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Geochelone carbonaria Geochelone Cuora flavomarginata Cuora Stigmochelys pardalis Geochelone gigantea Geochelone Mauremys nigricans Cuora amboinensis Cuora Figure 15. “Turtles from mountains” ——claims of wild-sourced Astrochelys radiataAstrochelys Geochelone sulcata Geochelone Testudo hermanni Mauremys mutica Cuora trifasciata Cuora Golden Coin Turtle Coin Golden on theInternet sold advertisements No. of 2566 3512 631 41 65 22 36 34 3 3 4 6 CITES VU Ⅱ VU Ⅱ CR LC Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅱ EN Ⅲ EN Ⅱ NT Ⅱ CR Ⅰ VU Ⅱ EN Ⅱ CR Ⅱ Red List Red National level of protection portant ecological,scientific Terrestrial wildlifewithim- and socialvalues（IESS） Level 2（onlyforwild Level 2（onlyforwild population） population） in China Level 2 Level 2 IESS IESS which showswhich an apparent intention products wildlife illegal (Figure to sell 16). accounts media that fact the social of the some are dealers included together with some images of articles, the products may encourage demand from general the public for buying evidenced such Thiscanbe by goods. products. Although no transactions are directly completed on such platforms, promotion their wildlife of illegal anpost article or blog on any topic) TRAFFIC has found some articles showing or presenting wildlife illegal While browsing and some portals We-Media channels related to traditional handicrafts Chinese may increasethe advertisements both on channels. channel for conducting trade. The wildlife illegal mutualtransfer media social and between traffic of APPs Despitemedia. number asmall platforms of media advertisements, social the themselves have become akey platform for far, some So sellers. APPs the related to traditional handicraft Chinese social withtypically link users to exchange second-hand APPs the goods, related to second-hand trading may have selling become anew accountsmedia and to complete In transactions media. addition through social by to used being individual offunction private communication, makes which it possible for buyers and to sellers exchange social their more opportunities for exposure the products wildlife of illegal online. Many online platforms feature the Commerce and Industry Research Institute 2018).Their -CCIRI, hugetraffic and large usersnumber of provide feature atransaction platform, have they alarge number of users,rose which to 353million in2018(China handicrafts, and websites advertising live Althoughreptiles. the APPs related to shortvideo stream do not platforms, including APPs related to short stream, video second-hand trade, and traditional Chinese It that found was also advertisements survey inthis products wildlife on illegal were on posted other online identificationpossible.soon as as technology Internet companies and law enforcement departments may to need develop and deploy data mining and image further, manpower and material to costsscreeninformation needed manually possibly will become prohibitive. and media trading. As an of use increasing the social diversity of of other types online channels proliferates laboratoryif the research findings arebe to appliedscenarios in wildlife illegal the online of identifyingreal could reach up to 93%(David and Julio, 2015);however, more rates tests and accuracy are higher needed, advertisementsivory with data mining in2015claimed rate technology” that accuracy the to ivory identify of advertisement the and are they able to and identify purchase such products. The author of “Identifying understanding about products, these not so having atext description not will influencetheir understanding bring together potential buyers share who same the interests on topics certain or products. have They acertain any text descriptions were online, posted as recorded 2017-2018survey. inthis platforms media Social often products contained which no keyword et al., (Xiao 2017).Since more then, and more advertisements without Previous TRAFFIC research pointed advertisements media of tofor occurrence the wildlife social illegal information inatimely manner. dedicate sufficient resources andfor surveillance monitoring in ordertakeaction todetect and on illegal any to endangered products, species relevant the law enforcement agencies and online platform operators should conducted could platforms.trade be media on social For reason, this for any online advertisements related product advertisements. and Once aconnection seller buyer between is established, genuine the wildlife illegal oftentrading. Sellers attract buyers’ attentionthrough old rhino horn,bone,tiger tiger tooth, and wildlife other issued due to low the value of item the involved. However, it is more difficultwildlife toillegal online handle tiger or leopard handled skin(yznews.com.cn, only be 2015),it as will an administrativebe and case afinewill have fakeproducts sold wildlife are generally charged with fraud If inChina. someone is caught fake selling tiger bone products, many because of such products are more likely fake. to be In law enforcement, people who platformOnline operators commonly ignore some advertisements related to be suspected to rhino horn and websitesbased to such post information. other ways to products advertise that are safer and more insist sellers hidden,these on using collection-/trading- or other channels. are sellers Illegal aware fully of customer this behaviour pattern. Despite there many being information through various websites and online forums, and purchase then products through (i.e. a platform for individual writers, where anyone can 13 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 14 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER million) (Tencent, 2019). National Forest Police uncover many involving cases, atotal value of more than CNY30million (USD 4.45 and products their on e-commerce platforms according to law “(People.com.cn, 2018).Tencent helped the 2018. One of major the actions was “to combat against rare selling of acts the illegally and endangered wildlife instance, “Campaign the of Spring Thunder 2018”waslaunched the by National Forest Police in April -May agencies and Internet companies have measures taken to crack down online on trade. For wildlife illegal Since commercial the ban was trade ivory enforced at inChina end the of relevant 2017,the law enforcement managementthe and gap fill in terms of managing trade online captive-breedof wildlife. websites as of January play will 1,2019, which asignificant role inurgingthe government agencies to improve its homepagebecome alegal (NPC,2018).Thiswill requirement to regulatethe operation of e-commerce operators display shall administrative the licenseinformation related to its operation inavisible place on E-Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China adopted on August 31,2018, it is stipulated that e-commerce It remains still unclear how to obtain such approval mark, and and special how to it. use In Article 15of the to ensure traceability. their However, implementation no specific rules or regulations have been published.yet of animals wild under State protection, and animals these can mark only and sold be with utilized aspecialized the Protection of Wildlife 2016(NPC, 2016), administrative approval must obtained be for captive the breeding According to provisions the 25,27and inArticles Law 28under revised the of the People’s Republic of China on advertisements that products these are from population. wild the onposted advertisements the are caught wild or captive-bred, and often sellers the deliberately implytheir in online the advertisements,in all it is not possible for buyers to distinguish Chelonian the whether species arespecies differentiated (protection only appliespopulation). thewild to sourceAs no indicatedbeen has State protection. However, protection of population wild the and that of captive-bred populations of some aquatic (including species included turtles) CITESAppendices inthe are animals as recognized wild under Noticethe No. 69issued of by Agriculture Ministry the and Rural Affairs 2018), in2018(MARA, (MARA) any National and Level on CITESAppendices the are found on posted to be websites advertising live reptiles. In A large number of advertisements on Chelonian included species List inthe of Key Protected Animals at Figure 16. Articles on illegal wildlife products at a portal, with the seller’s account productsatwith in aportal, media wildlife social Figure on illegal 16.Articles the picture • The general public and NGOs should need encourage and support relevant research institutions and Internet • Monitoring by NGOs online on should trade wildlife illegal continue to generate relevant information to assist The general public and NGOs： • Internet companies to need co-operate more closely with relevant law enforcement agencies and NGOs, and • Internet companies comply to need fully with E-Commerce the Law as as possible, soon including requesting • Internet companies improve to need further capacity their toand detect delete advertisements and information Internet companies： • In line with E-Commerce the Law, authorities wildlife the to need promulgate on online legal trade rules wildlife • Thewildlife authorities to need promulgate rules on mark China“the specialized on Wildlife Management • Law enforcement strengthen agencies of to need further supervision Internet platforms, and cases identify Government： agencies 2017-2018: The following recommendations arefrom made research findings regarding period the wildlife tradein online works closely with websites,operators media social and law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime. wildlife TRAFFIC is committed to monitoring through trade wildlife e-commerce illegal and the media, and social V. RECOMMENDATIONS detect and onlinedetect trade. deter wildlife illegal companies to develop technologies on photo recognition and data mining and apply technologies these to combat cybercrime; wildlife law enforcement agencies and website administrators inorder to effectively regulatethe online markets and trade. wildlife onlinethe illegal jointly conduct information campaigns to raise users’ awareness of law, the with aim the to deter participation operations, and stop operation the of refuse to who dealers provide such information; todealers always provide business their licensesand administrative licenseinformation related to their products, and it would help companies trade; wildlife toillegal detect public reporting mechanism is recommended to actively reduce online the and tradingwildlife of their illegal promoting purchasethe and wildlife of productstheir illegal in a timely manner. The establishment of a online channels. transaction, in to prevent population wild illegal the from being introduced and sold through Internet/ asas possible, soon on particularly captive-bred and wildlife products their that are allowed for commercial Operation and Use regarding specifically of LivingChelonian Bodies, species; (CNWM)”, including how to apply Measures the tools, and inparticular these use for Management the on the monitoring attention by relevant government agencies and companies; of trade, and wildlife sale elephant suspected the illegal name inthe ivory of mammoth regular needs ivory to comply with relevant laws. For example, emerging the platforms not conventionally associated with trends inatimely for trade wildlife manner, illegal and demand Internet companies to effective take actions 15 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER 16 TRAFFIC BRIEFING PAPER August 2017 Zhao Y. K.,Xu Y., L.,Xiao Guan J. and Wilson L. (2017).Revisiting China’s ivory markets in 2017. Chinese.,http://roll.sohu.com/20150113/n407755527.shtml . Viewed 18Jan 2019 Yznews.com.cn. (2015)Two men sold hides for RMB 800 at Hangji Market of Agricultural Products-in TRAFFIC: April 2017 Y.,Xiao Guan J., Xu L. (2017). Briefing Paper: March 2015 Y.,Xiao Wang J. (2015).Moving Target: tracking online sales of illegal wildlife products in China. TRAFFIC e=1&scene=1&srcid=0110bp83QpIquA1cYOHd5yZU#rd. Viewed 18Jan 2019 6&chksm=8032037eb7458a6818493a73110392c98fe438f650c285503485ad2748c15472339c3f42597d&mpshar qq.com/s?__biz=MzAxOTUzMTg0Mg==&mid=2651009619&idx=1&sn=8207f61e6fee0ea4d7095a8a7c5c203 Tencent. (2019).2018,Thank you for your help in protecting thesafety wildlife-in of Chinese.https://mp.weixin. http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0620/c1008-30067210.html People.com.cn. (2018). The “Campaign of Spring Thunder 2018” came toa successful conclusion-in Chinese. com/a/127428744_114731. Viewed 18Jan 2019 People.com.cn, (2017).,Police in Fujian seized60kgof ivory products-in Chinese. http://www.sohu. National People’s Congress. (2018).,E-Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China 2016-in Chinese. National People’s Congress. Law (2016).,Revised of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife htm. Viewed 18Jan 2019 the People’s Republic of China-in Chinese. http://www.moa.gov.cn/govpublic/YYJ/201810/t20181015_6160721. of AgricultureMinistry and Rural Affairs. (2018).Notice No.69 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of 2015 Guan J. and Xu L.(2015).Deadly Messaging: illegal ivory trade in China’s Social Media. TRAFFIC: November elephant data mining. via ivory JulioDavid L.Roberts, Hernandez-Castro. (2015).Automatic detection of potentially illegal online sales of news.163.com/16/0805/07/BTMJFT5C00014AEE.html. Viewed 18Jan 2019 ,(2016)., Dahe.cn chanye/20180930/1429401133337.shtml. Viewed 18Jan 2019 August 2018:the number of active of users Kuaishou ranks first-in China. CommerceChina and Industry Research Institute. (2018)., REFERENCES and WWFUK. Preparation reviews. their and implementation of report this was made possible with support the from UKAid Compton, Stephanie Pendry, Steven Broad, Yuqi Yang and Sammi for Li ongoing the support provided and for The authorsthank TRAFFIC Lingand WWFcolleagues, Chou,Xu,Linda Lau,Wilson Giavanna Grein, James ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Police in arrested 21suspects and seized204kgof ivory products http://. –inChinese PeerJ Computer https://peerj.com/articles/cs-10/. Science. Viewed 18Jan 2019 Wildlife Cybercrime in China: E-commerce and social monitoring in 2016. Analysis on short video market in China in http://www.askci.com/news/ TRAFFIC: Registered Limited Company No. 3785518. UK Registered Charity No. 1076722, Website: E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (44)(0)1223277427 UK Cambridge CB23QZ Pembroke Street David Attenborough Building Office Global TRAFFIC For information further contact: to European the Licensed © 2019TRAFFIC.rights reserved. All Union under conditions responsibility of TRAFFIC and can under no circumstances regarded be position asthe reflecting the of European Union. This documentbeen hasproduced withthe financial assistance the of European Union. The contentsdocument this of sole the are animals and plants context inthe of biodiversity both conservation and sustainable development. monitoringTRAFFIC, trade wildlife the network, is aleading non-governmental organisation working on inwild globally trade

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