CYBER SPOTTER PROGRAMME

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CYBER SPOTTER HIGHLIGHTS

Since 2020

18

Number of Cyber Spotter rounds

540+

Volunteers Trained

28,000+

IWT Listings Flagged

440

Number of new Search Keywords

The world’s most endangered species are under threat from an unsuspecting source - the Internet

Advances in digital connectivity, combined with rising demand for illegal wildlife products, have increased the ease of exchange of wildlife from poacher to consumer across continents. 

Purchasing elephant ivory, tiger teeth and other endangered wildlife products is now an easy click, pay, ship process. Given the anonymous nature of online trafficking, it is essential that technology companies take charge of detecting and disrupting this illegal trade.

Our solution: The WWF Wildlife Cyber Spotter Programme

We need a systematic approach to detect and take down illegal wildlife product postings on digital platforms. But with thousands of listings found online at any given time in an ever-evolving online landscape, we cannot do it alone.

This is where you come in.

Help detect and report online listings by joining the Wildlife Cyber Spotter Programme.

How will you be involved? 

Selected volunteers will undergo compulsory training to identify prohibited wildlife products and report any suspicious content to WWF. WWF will review the listings and work with the participating members of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online to remove the content from their platforms.

2023 CYBER SPOTTER SUMMARY

6870 SUSPICIOUS WILDLIFE LISTINGS FLAGGED

BY CYBER SPOTTERS OVER 5 PROGRAMME ROUNDS

51 New KeyWords Found

across 12 different languages

A TOTAL OF 156 New Volunteers Trained

WITH 5 Upgrading to Volunteer Leads

HISTORY

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April

2022

June

2022

August

2022

November

2022

February

2023

April

2023

June

2023

August

2023

October

2023

January

2024

COMMONLY SMUGGLED WILDLIFE

CLICK ON EACH ANIMAL TO LEARN MORE

COMMONLY LISTED WILDLIFE PRODUCTS

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ivory
pangolin
tiger

USING AI TO FIGHT WILDLIFE CRIME

MEDIA FEATURES

Taking wildlife smugglers to tusk: Singapore gives teeth to fight with new anti-trafficking laws
S’pore volunteers training AI to crack down on illegal wildlife trade online
Time to raise awareness about pangolin poaching in Singapore
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PDPA Policy

hawksbill sea turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Their coloured and patterned shells make them highly valuable and commonly sold as “tortoiseshells” in markets. They are also used in jewellery, accessories, and even decorations. Their egg and meat are also still considered a delicacy. In just over 150 years, an estimated 9 million hawksbill turtles have been hunted.

hawksbill sea turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Their coloured and patterned shells
make them highly valuable and commonly sold as “tortoiseshells” in markets. They are also used in jewellery, accessories, and even decorations.
Their egg and meat are also still considered a delicacy. In just over 150 years, an estimated 9 million hawksbill turtles have been hunted.

WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA

Copsychus malabaricus

Their melodious call is what makes the White-Rumped Shama one of the most common songbirds listed online as pets. The species has since gone extinct from Thailand and most parts of Indonesia due to poaching. According to TRAFFIC, over 19,000 White-rumped Shamas have been illegally traded in Southeast Asia since 2014.

Copsychus malabaricus

Eublepharis macularius

Their melodious call is what makes the White-Rumped Shama one of the most common songbirds listed online as pets.
The species has since gone extinct from Thailand and most parts of Indonesia due
to poaching. According to TRAFFIC, over 19,000 White-rumped Shamas have been illegally traded in Southeast Asia since 2014

Malayan TIGER

Panthera tigris jacksoni

All tiger body parts have a market value; bones in traditional medicines or wine, skins as rugs or clothing, teeth/claws as trinkets, and meat as delicacy. In Malaysia, the population of the Malayan tiger has plummeted to just less than 200 and is now listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Intrinsically linked with the forest and as apex predators, tigers are a sign of a broader, healthy forest ecosystem.

Malayan TIGERs

Panthera tigris jacksoni

All tiger body parts have a market value; bones in traditional medicines or wine,
skins as rugs or clothing, teeth/claws as trinkets, and meat as delicacy. In Malaysia, the population of the Malayan tiger has plummeted to just less than 200 and is now listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Intrinsically linked with the forest and as
apex predators, tigers are a sign of a
broader, healthy forest ecosystem.

Sunda pangolin

Manis javanica

Typically poached for their scales to be used in traditional medicine in Asia and for their meat, which is often eaten as a symbol of wealth or traded internationally as exotic meat. In 2019 alone, Singapore port authorities seized three shipments containing around 35 tonnes of pangolin scales.

Sunda pangolin

Manis javanica

Typically poached for their
scales to be used in traditional medicine
in Asia and for their meat, which is often eaten as a symbol of wealth or traded internationally as exotic meat. In 2019 alone, Singapore port authorities seized three shipments containing around
35 tonnes of pangolin scales.

LEOPARD GECKO

Eublepharis macularius

Often stolen from their natural habitats to be kept as pets, the Leopard Geckos are native to dry and semi-desert regions. They tend to be “creatively” but cruelly smuggled through borders in illegal ways, like being tucked inside books, socks, and containers, causing distress to the geckos. Many of their parts and derivatives are also used as ingredients in traditional medicines.

LEOPARD GECKO

Eublepharis macularius

Often stolen from their natural habitats to be kept as pets, the Leopard Geckos are native to dry and semi-desert regions. They tend to be “creatively” but cruelly smuggled through borders in illegal ways, like being tucked inside books, socks, and containers, causing distress to the geckos. Many of their parts and derivatives
are also used as ingredients in
traditional medicines.

African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Ivory is commonly trafficked for its perceived luxury and luck status symbol and is sold in the market as jewellery or souvenirs. In 2019, Singapore saw one of the largest one-time seizures, where local authorities confiscated 8,800kg of elephant ivory, equivalent to about 300 African elephants.

African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Ivory is commonly trafficked for its perceived luxury and luck status symbol and is sold in the market as jewellery or souvenirs. In 2019, Singapore saw one
of the largest one-time seizures, where local authorities confiscated 8,800kg of elephant ivory, equivalent to about 300 African elephants.

BALL PYTHON

Python regius

Highly targeted and exploited as exotic pets for their beautiful skin, their populations in the wild are now threatened due to illegal poaching. Ball pythons, along with other reptiles, often dominate the exotic leather market.

BALL PYTHONS

Python regius

Highly targeted and exploited as exotic pets for their beautiful skin, their populations in the wild are now threatened due to illegal poaching.
Ball pythons, along with other reptiles, often dominate the exotic leather market.