Concerns are growing over the open advertisement of endangered wildlife on TikTok’s marketplace, as new research reveals traders in Togo are using the platform to sell bushmeat from protected species, posing a significant threat to global conservation efforts and public health.

• Over 3,500 smoked animal carcasses from 27 protected species were documented in more than 80 videos between November 2022 and April 2024.
• The research was conducted by World Animal Protection (WAP), with Dr. Angie Elwin, Head of Research at WAP, calling out TikTok for failing to enforce its community guidelines.
• One video featuring smoked pangolins, a critically trafficked mammal, amassed over 216,000 views, highlighting the scale of the illegal trade.