Trafficking cases were compiled by experts in Mexico, Israel and Namibia and now published in the academic journal Science Direct. Their investigation revealed more than 1,800 instances of trafficking and that at least 4,184 cheetahs have been moved from Africa to the Gulf since 2009.
The issue has been aggravated by the arrival of social media, where these animals are presented as pets – in vehicles or being walked around
Hiba Al Shehhi, acting director of biodiversity at the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said the authorities continue to tighten border controls and tackle the illegal trade.
'We are monitoring such sites to strengthen the enforcement of illegal wildlife trade legislation.
'The issue of uncontrolled keeping of big cats, including cheetahs, has been aggravated by the arrival of social media, where these animals are presented as pets – in vehicles or being walked around.'
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE all appeared on a list of countries where online selling of endangered animals had previously occurred.
Only 7,000 cheetahs now exist in the wild. Social media has increased demand for trafficked animals, where they are often flaunted as pets or accessories. Antonie Robertson / The National. Of those recorded incidents, 87 per cent were of live animals, while 13 per cent involved parts or derivatives of cheetahs. Patricia Tricorache, an illegal wildlife trade expert in Mexico City, who led the research, said: 'We monitored sellers' accounts that were brought to our attention by confidential informants who had dealt with them or are part of their networks.
'One of these informants provided us with Instagram usernames of the five largest sellers in the UAE. 'Posts on these accounts yielded hundreds of new discoveries that were added to the research.' Where do trafficked big cats come from?The report aimed to highlight the extent of illegal activities involving cheetahs by sharing an in-depth data set of potential trafficking routes, black market prices and the extent of online selling networks.
Information has been passed on to authorities to encourage prosecutions and training among law enforcement and border control. More than 300 sources supplied data, including field informants, vets, cheetah owners, government officials and reports published by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), a multilateral treaty to protect animals and plants.
Other research included in the study was taken from e-commerce and social media platforms where wildlife was sold. The highest number of cheetahs – 42 per cent of the total – were found to originate from Somaliland, in the Horn of Africa. Kenya provided 12 per cent of the trafficked animals, while 10 per cent came from Ethiopia.
Iran, where fewer than 50 cheetahs are thought to now exist, was responsible for three recorded trafficking cases during the decade-long research.
The other 41 nations referenced in the data included transit or destination countries, with 60 per cent of cheetahs recorded in Saudi Arabia, 14 per cent in Kuwait and 13 per cent in the UAE. A total of 2,316 online adverts were recorded by the researchers, representing 528 different sellers. Illegal sellers face prisonCites places the cheetah on its list of most endangered animals.
While it is illegal to sell wild cheetah, captive bred cats can be traded by only two registered facilities, both in South Africa.
By Nick Webster
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