- A study warns that bushmeat sales are growing online.
- The sales happen on social media platforms and groups.
- Sellers post pictures and prices to find customers.
- Sellers sell smoked meat, fresh meat, cooked meat or live animals.
- This trade can spread diseases from animals to people.
- It also harms wild animals and reduces biodiversity.
- Some sellers say customers need these food products.
- Experts want better rules and stronger controls.
- Private messaging makes it harder to trace activity.
Difficult words
- bushmeat — meat from wild animals hunted in nature
- social media platform — a website or app where people share postssocial media platforms
- seller — a person who sells things to otherssellers
- disease — an illness that makes people or animals sickdiseases
- biodiversity — the number of different plants and animals
- private messaging — sending messages in small or private groups
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever bought food online?
- Do you use social media to buy or sell things?
- Do you think rules for online sales are needed?
Related articles
Molecules in million‑year‑old fossils show a warmer, wetter past
Researchers extracted metabolism molecules from fossil bones aged 1.3–3 million years. Analyses of animal and plant metabolites reveal diets, infections and local environments and suggest the study sites were warmer and wetter than today.
Engineered antibodies could block cytomegalovirus
A research team created changed antibodies that stop human cytomegalovirus from disabling immune responses. Lab tests show the antibodies reduce virus spread, but researchers say more testing is needed before they can be used in people.
Antibiotics on farms and rising resistance in East Africa
Antibiotic use on farms in parts of East Africa is increasing antimicrobial resistance. Poor access to veterinary care, weak rules and routine drug use on animals are driving resistant infections that affect people, animals and the environment.