Bearcats puppies are one of the species traded illegally in Facebook in Malaysia
Environmentalists say they are concerned about the emergence of Facebook as an online marketplace for trade in endangered species.
monitoring network traffic wildlife found hundreds of protected animals for sale in Facebook groups in Malaysia, including sun bears, gibbons, and binturongs, also known as Bearcat.
It is said that this illegal trade is a growing threat worldwide.
Facebook said it "will not hesitate" to remove content promoting such trade.
The researchers monitored 14 Facebook groups for 30 minutes a day for a period of five months. They found more than 300 wild animals, living for sale as pets.
"Often there is trade a small percentage of people participating in illegal activities," said Sarah Stoner traffic, one of the authors of the report.
"However, we have identified 236 places where it is not considered illegal activity, there were 106 different vendors, that's a lot of different people and it shows how prevalent it is."
A White Handed Gibbon was another endangered animal put up for sale
Researchers say the development of an online trading in Malaysia is surprising because open markets wildlife are not in the country, unlike other parts of Asia.
"Demand for these animals has always existed in Malaysia but has never really had an outlet to flourish while internet and Facebook seems to be providing the platform to allow traffic to happen this way," said Sarah Stoner.
Almost half of the recorded species were protected and illegal to sell under Malaysian law. Some 25 of the 69 non-native animals protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Traffic say they have shared the details of their investigation with Facebook that are seeking to develop practical solutions to combat trade.
"We are committed to working with traffic to help address illegal online trading of wildlife in Malaysia," Facebook said in a statement.
"Facebook does not allow the sale and trade of endangered animals and will not hesitate to remove any content that violates our terms of service."
The researchers also transmit their information to the Malaysian authorities.
TurtleImage copyrightTraffic
Image capture
A pig nose turtle be sold, from one of the publications in Facebook in Malaysia
"We conducted 43 successful attacks, arrested at least 54 illegal traders and more than 67 wildlife species being traded illegally on Facebook, beware '' said Hasnan Yusop, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, who noted that colleagues have Facebook groups been selling wildlife since 2013.
'' More importantly, we also want to send a stern warning - if someone is caught violating our law, they will face great difficulty, "he added.
Researchers are concerned that the use of social networks and smart phones means that anyone interested in selling wildlife can quickly access a large number of potential buyers.
They are worried that technology is opening up lucrative new markets, worldwide.
"While the findings are on illegal wildlife trade in Malaysia, we believe it reflects a problem worldwide," said Sarah Stoner Traffic.
"The ability of social media to get in touch with traffickers many potential buyers quickly, cheaply and anonymously, is concern for wildlife agencies and endangered application that demands nothing less than a global response concerted '' .
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