Chennai: A post of a man holding a ball python in his hand pops up on social media. The link leads you to his page and a series of posts where he exhibits various species of tortoises, scorpions, snakes, iguana and proudly announces to deliver them across the country.

Purchasing exotic pets no longer involves scouting for an illegal trader in the dingy underground markets.These dark markets have now gone online, and payments are made through cryptocurrency, says the annual report of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

This growing trend calls for an urgent classify wildlife cybercrime as a distinct criminal offence. The report has expressed concern over the huge following for social media accounts selling trafficked wildlife. The offerings in these illegal online markets range from exotic animals such as wall pythons, iguana, rat species, marmosets to Indian star tortoises and even pangolins.

“The anonymity the internet offers has made it convenient for illegal pet traders. The shift is taking place because of strong enforcement against offline trade,” said a DRI official. The whole phenomenon of owning exotic pets picked up during Covid and post-Covid season. Many see this illegal trade as an alternative source of income. “But they do not understand the risk of being tried by enforcement agencies for violation of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) rules if they are caught,” said Antony Rubin, an animal activist.

The animals also get stressed over long hours of journey and alien land. Activists have called for the need to classify wildlife cybercrime as a distinct criminal offence in legislations. Rubin says the enforcement agencies should catch the dealers of exotic pets instead of just nabbing couriers carrying them.