Persistent illegal online trade in turtles and tortoises in Spain

Recently, wildlife trade has increasingly shifted towards online platforms, potentially allowing illegal activities to evade detection. In Spain, the trade of protected native and invasive alien species is prohibited by law. Additionally, as a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the country is subject to its regulations. We analysed online chelonian trade on a major Spanish online marketplace using advertisements collected over a four-year period, during which trade regulations strengthened. A considerable volume of trade was documented within the market, including both native protected species (i.e., Testudo hermanni , T. graeca ) and alien invasive species (e.g., Trachemys scripta ). Overall, 58 species and one hybrid were recorded, and 31% of advertisements did not mention permit availability. The most frequently traded species were Testudo horsfieldii , Centrochelys sulcata and Stigmochelys pardalis . Comparisons between survey periods suggest a decline in the number of species advertised, including protected and invasive taxa, alongside an increase in advertisements mentioning permits and posted by professional sellers. These patterns may indicate increased compliance with trade regulations, although protected and invasive species remained available online. Our findings highlight the need for continued monitoring of online wildlife trade and greater collaboration between environmental authorities and digital platforms.