Local MP Cathy Welfare has condemned the online trade in wildlife highlighted in a report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The report, "Wanted – Dead or Alive", shows the results of a series of IFAW investigations into the online trade in wildlife that have taken place since 2004.

Although it acknowledges that it is impossible to measure illegal online wildlife trading on the basis of the IFAW investigations alone, the report points to record high levels of poaching as being indicative of the scale of the problem.

The report estimates that the trade generates $19 billion annually and ranks fourth on the list of the most lucrative global illegal activities after drugs, counterfeiting and human trafficking.

Ivory, reptiles, and birds were the most widely traded items, with ivory and suspected ivory featuring in almost one-third of all advertisements.

Cathy said "This report lays bare the shocking scale and cost of illegal online trading in wildlife.

This illicit trade is hugely damaging; it increases the threat to endangered species to existential levels and generates a huge amount of revenue on the black market, presenting a considerable challenge to national and global security as well as to social and economic development in the countries in which it occurs.

I fully agree with the IFAW that it is essential that governments, policy makers and law enforcers do not ignore online wildlife crime, but have robust laws that address and tackle the specific challenges it presents.

I would also urge people to be wary of any wildlife products they see advertised online, which may be of highly dubious and/or illegal provenance."