The Trade in Reptiles in the Digital Era: Illegal Entrepreneurs and Cold-Blooded Creatures

• In Event: Cold-Blooded Networks: Exploring Illicit Reptile Trade and Organized Crime in the Digital Age

Abstract

The expansion of the internet and social media has significantly influenced the illegal wildlife trade, including the illegal trade in reptiles. Reptile species are frequently sold on various digital platforms, becoming victims of this vibrant online underworld. The laundering of reptiles online creates a complex interface between illegal and legal trade activities. This presentation illustrates how the digital era has facilitated communication among traders, buyers, and illegal entrepreneurs within the reptile trade. It has enabled them to establish extensive social networks and gain prestige within this clandestine market.

Author

• Daan van Uhm, Utrecht University, The Netherlands