For Sale on Facebook: Monkeys, Rhino Horn and Dead Pangolins

Facebook parent company Meta is accused of hosting the world's largest known illegal wildlife trade market, with dozens of posts reviewed by AFP illustrating rampant trafficking of endangered species.

A report released Monday by several NGOs claims Meta effectively encourages this trade by sharing advertising revenues with users and allowing subscription models. This follows research by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), which warned Facebook is the central platform for online wildlife trafficking.

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Even the unredacted accounts and groups we reported on publicly in the report are still live and active.

Conservationists say Meta's policies restricting endangered species sales have done little to curb the illegal trade. GI-TOC research found over 20,000 adverts for more than 260,000 wildlife products on social media platforms between April 2024 and March 2026, with nearly three-quarters on Facebook. Many remained online even after being reported.

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I have not once received a response or seen any action taken. Accounts that are openly breaking the law should be closed, and investigations into the criminal activities behind them should be launched.

"Even the unredacted accounts and groups we reported on publicly in the report are still live and active," said Russell Gray, a data scientist and ecologist who co-authored the GI-TOC report. Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, stated, "I have not once received a response or seen any action taken." He added, "Accounts that are openly breaking the law should be closed, and investigations into the criminal activities behind them should be launched."

Conservationists argue that Meta's content monetization programs, including advertising revenue and subscription models, incentivize users to engage in illegal activities. "This content monetization that Facebook and Instagram push is actually incentivizing people to commit illegal acts," said Daniel Stiles, an independent wildlife trafficking investigator. "The more interaction and engagement they get on their account, the more money they can make," he added.

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This content monetization that Facebook and Instagram push is actually incentivizing people to commit illegal acts. The more interaction and engagement they get on their account, the more money they can make.