> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/global-monitoring-system.md). # Global Monitoring System - ECOSOLVE ## URL ## Description This tool allows us to explore a [growing](https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Monitoring-illegal-wildlife-trade-Brazil-and-South-Africa-GI-TOC-October-2024.pdf) phenomenon in the world of wildlife trafficking: the use of social networks and online marketplaces to offer live animals or parts of them. To date, the tool has [recorded](https://www.ecosolve.eco/dashboard/advert-database) nearly 25,000 online wildlife trade ads on various platforms across more than eight regional [data hubs](https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Monitoring-illegal-wildlife-trade-Ivory-and-plants-GI-TOC-January-2025.pdf).

Traffickers use social networks and online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace to sell or ask for live animals for sale or animal parts. The trade is sometimes connected with other illegal markets such as drugs trafficking. The screenshot above is from a video that you can find here.

The system allows filtering by 84 species, 39 countries (among the countries you can find Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Turkey, Thailand) and 58 different online marketplaces such as Instagram, Facebook, OLX and Mercado Livre (the last two refer to online marketplaces). When you perform a search you will get different visuals showing the number of detections, a market tracker and a trend monitor, all very useful to understand the market prevalence in certain online marketplaces.

Here, for example, I have searched for Pangolin in all countries + all platforms covered by the site.

The visuals are set to show me how many ads are available on the topic.

In addition, you will get a database that lists the website, name, species, type of product (live or parts), where it was sold, among other information. You can also download the whole database.

This is what the database looks like when searching for Pangolin.

Additionally, there is an [analysis section](https://www.ecosolve.eco/analysis) where you can find different publications and events on online wildlife trade, environmental trade, among other relevant topics from the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI TOC). The ECOSOLVE initiative can be useful for those researching wildlife trade who want to explore online marketplaces and species trade ads. It can be a good place to start looking for patterns and discover the most relevant social networks and online marketplaces to search more thoroughly using other tools. ECOSOLVE is not just a tool. Its team also leads various [cooperation initiatives](https://globalinitiative.net/announcements/community-led-responses-to-environmental-crime-in-indonesia/) between local actors and law enforcement agencies to combat environmental crime. ## Cost * [x] Free * [ ] Partially Free * [ ] Paid ## Level of difficulty


1

## Requirements None. ## Limitations Not all species and countries are available. May 13, 2026 was the last update and information is not updated automatically. Information in datasets is not very detailed. There is no information on whether this site is updated manually by a team or whether its updated using keywords appearing in the monitored social media and marketplaces, however, [contributions](https://www.ecosolve.eco/about) can be made to the database, which would indicate that there may be human sources fact checking the information. ## Ethical Considerations The project uses [artificial intelligence](https://www.ecosolve.eco/about). More information is needed on how the project addresses the ethical challenges associated with artificial intelligence. ## Guides and articles [ECO-SOLVE: Using AI to Disrupt Global Wildlife Trafficking](https://www.acamstoday.org/eco-solve-using-ai-to-disrupt-global-wildlife-trafficking/) ## Tool provider EU’s Global Illicit Flows programme (GIFP) and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI TOC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ## Advertising Trackers * [ ] This tool has not been checked for advertising trackers yet. * [x] This tool uses tracking cookies. Use with caution. * [ ] This tool does not appear to use tracking cookies. | Page maintainer | | ------------------------- | | Bellingcat Volunteer Team | | | --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/global-monitoring-system.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.