Caught in the net: Cyber-enabled wildlife crime
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- May 23, 2022
- 5 min read
An exploration of what Apps like TikTok and WhatsApp have to do with badger crime and how virtual research can help badgers in real life.
Badger persecution rose substantially during regional and countrywide lockdowns throughout 2020-2021. Recent research revealed a 36% surge in badger crime in 2020, a rise attributed to the increased privacy afforded to rural landscapes making crime less visible as most of the public stayed at home. Indeed, where much of the world experienced what environmental scientists dubbed the “Anthropause” – the noticeable increase in wildlife encounters as animals ventured into towns and cities devoid of human disturbance – in comparison, badgers in hidden rural settings fell victim to heightened rates of persecution.
Yet it wasn’t only the relative quiet of the countryside that enabled badger persecution to boom; the trend in online activity also helped fuel the organised nature of what was already a priority wildlife crime. As people were increasingly forced to isolate at home, and with schools, colleges, and workplaces closed, the internet became a playground for social connectivity.
Has social media use really increased, though?
According to new research by Ofcom, UK adults now spend on average one-quarter of their waking day online, a record high. In its latest Online Nation 2021 Report, Ofcom reported social media use grew rapidly throughout 2019-2020 as people sought ways to connect safely in the absence of in-person social opportunities.
Video streaming platforms such as TikTok became most popular amongst younger audiences, with over half of 16 to 24-year old’s (54%) having a TikTok account during that time. However, engagement with TikTok is expected to be much higher as users can view content without registering with an account. In addition, WhatsApp steadily became the most popular messaging service, with 75% of over-15s in Britain using WhatsApp at least monthly. And in 2020 alone, WhatsApp’s overall UK adult reach was 30.4million people!
What do Apps like WhatsApp and TikTok have to do with badger crime?
To answer this, we first need to look at the context in which wildlife crime is cyber-enabled. Cyber-enabled crime is where the internet is used by criminals to organise illegal activities. The illicit sale of wildlife products such as ivory and the illegal import and sale of wild animals for the exotic pet trade have long been enabled online. Wildlife traffickers (and the public) use the internet to illegally trade animals and animal products that they cannot obtain from reputable legal avenues, such as pet shops or high street retailers.
According to TRAFFIC, an organisation which specifically monitors the illegal wildlife trade, cyber-enabled wildlife crime is an urgent conservation priority. Wildlife traders turn to social media sites like Instagram, TikTok, and messaging services like WhatsApp because activity on these sites can be difficult for police to follow.
Unfortunately, badgers have also found themselves victims of cyber-enabled wildlife crime. Organised criminal gangs use the internet to arrange when and where they will target specific badger populations. They also share violent videos of badger baiting on social media, which normalises the persecution of the species. This is why Badger Trust considers cyber-enabled wildlife crime to be a priority area of research for protecting badgers.
How does virtual research help badgers in real life?
By researching how criminals use the internet to organise acts of badger persecution, we could more effectively campaign to protect badgers.
Firstly, by understanding the demographics of the people involved in badger crime, we can train police forces in England and Wales by informing them which groups and locations to target. By identifying the websites and apps criminals use for illegal activities, we can make it harder for them to use these platforms to organise badger crimes as the police can use them as evidence.
Secondly, by identifying which cyber platforms are most commonly used by badger persecutors, we can work with social media platforms and app creators to ensure their websites are safe places where criminal activity cannot thrive. According to Giavanna Grein, Senior Program Officer with TRAFFIC:
"Partnering with social media platforms is critical to have an impact in reducing wildlife trafficking online."
So far, 37 tech companies have joined the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. This initiative brings together tech companies with wildlife experts from NGOs such as TRAFFIC, WWF, and IFAW. So there is hope for greater awareness and regulation of the internet to help prevent animal suffering from proliferating online.
Given the increase in badger crime, is there any good news for badgers?
Yes, there is! Here at Badger Trust, we work tirelessly to help end badger crime. The illegal persecution of badgers is a UK Wildlife Crime Priority, which means police forces across the country are working to protect badgers.
Currently listed in the NPCC Wildlife Crime Strategy 2018-2021 and under consideration for notifiable status by the home office, badger persecution is a crime which should be taken seriously. Whilst this is excellent news for badgers and does offer some hope for the future, the current legislation is not robust enough to act as a sufficient deterrent toward violence against badgers, and tracking organised wildlife crime online is not without its challenges.
What can you do to Act for Badgers?
1. How you can report badger crime and suspicious incidents
Recording and reporting badger crime helps investigators bring offenders to justice.
If a badger crime or suspicious incident is in progress:
call 999 and ask for police assistance
ensure you get a reference number for your call
If a badger crime has already happened:
call the police on their non-emergency number 101, or online to your relevant police force using “report a crime”.
ensure you get a reference number for your call
In all cases, keep yourself safe and do not approach or disturb the scene.
2. PBA30 Campaign: tougher sentencing to protect badgers
You can join our PBA30 campaign and add your voice to our call for better protection for badgers. We’ve written to the Defra Secretary of State, Rt Hon George Eustice MP, to ask him to extend sentencing for badger crime. This would mean sentences for crimes such as badger baiting and shooting would present a real deterrent to badger abusers.
You can write to the Secretary of State and your MP too. The more letters they receive, the more chance we have of bringing about change, and as quickly as possible.
Further information
Badger Trust relies on reports of illegal activity at badger setts from the public. It also receives crime reports from its affiliated Badger Groups and supporters. The charity’s experienced Crime Officer – dedicated to monitoring and tracking badger crime across England and Wales – reviews the reports and works closely with the police to follow ongoing investigations and assist as needed, giving the best chance to achieve more wildlife crime prosecutions.
Every report received supports vital campaigning work calling for changes to the law to improve the lives of thousands of animals. As a member of Wildlife Link, the data shared also forms part of the annual Wildlife Crime report.
Badger Trust provides training to police forces across England and Wales and has now trained 42 of the 43 police forces. Wildlife crime has remained a prominent issue facing badgers and causes a staggering number of badger deaths each year. Yet very few end up being brought to justice. Outdoor crime scenes are especially challenging. Badger Trust aims to ensure that any police officer arriving on the scene knows how to identify a badger sett and evidence of badger crime.
