The illegal trade of wild birds in a social network: A call for action from Argentina.

This article focuses on the characterization of illegal wild and domestic bird trade on Facebook in Argentina, revealing that despite a decline from 2017 to 2023, this activity remains widespread across multiple provinces. Analysis of Facebook groups showed that 67 bird species, including two globally Endangered and one Near Threatened species, were offered for sale without legal permits, with passerines being the most frequently traded group. The study highlights the persistence of illegal bird trafficking facilitated by social media platforms, underscoring insufficient enforcement of wildlife laws and Facebook’s policies. It calls for coordinated interdisciplinary actions involving authorities, social media companies, and local communities to implement both top-down and bottom-up measures to reduce and ultimately halt illegal wildlife trade.