Latin American zoos warn illegal wildlife trade is increasingly shifting to social media - UPI.com

The Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums warned the region's illegal wildlife trade is increasingly shifting to social media. File Photo by Attila Kovacs/EPA

June 25 (UPI) -- The Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Thursday launched a regional campaign to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in Latin America, warning that the illicit trade in wildlife has increasingly shifted to digital platforms and social media, where it is more difficult to detect and combat.

The initiative coincides with the International Day Against Illegal Wildlife Trafficking and seeks to raise awareness among both the public and authorities about the evolution of this crime, considered the world's fourth most profitable illicit activity.

According to the Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Noticias Telerama, the illegal wildlife trade generates between $7 billion and $10 billion annually.

The figure rises to about $20 billion when illegal fishing and logging are included.