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Study uncovers Facebook trade in wild animals
The most commonly listed animal was the Sundra slow loris, which was illegally traded as a pet and prop for tourists.

Over 1,500 animals listed for sale in Thailand 

A study by the wildlife group TRAFFIC has found more than 1,500 live animals listed for sale on Facebook in Thailand.

Researchers monitored a dozen Facebook groups for 30 minutes a day, over 23 days in 2016.

A follow-up study in 2018 revealed that 10 of these groups remained, of which one had become a secret group. Membership had nearly doubled, from 106,111 to 203,445.

Out of 200 species being sold, 47 per cent were not protected under Thailand’s primary wildlife legislation, in many cases because they were not native to the country. Most were mammals, birds and reptiles.

The most commonly listed animal was the sunda slow loris, which was illegally traded as a pet and prop for tourists. In total, researchers saw 139 listed for sale.

Other animals being sold included a critically endangered helmeted hornbill and 25 Siamese crocodiles.

In light of the research, TRAFFIC urged Thai authorities to close legal loopholes and bolster current enforcement efforts.

Image by Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada/CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise 100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.