A Libyan environmental organisation has warned that illegal wildlife trafficking remains widespread, after a pup of an African golden wolf was reportedly offered for sale in a local market.
The Al-Barari Organisation for Nature Conservation said the species is a native predator and plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating other animal populations.
It warned that removing young animals from the wild can harm not only the individual, but also disrupt family groups, often exposing the animal to stress, malnutrition and difficulty surviving if returned to its natural habitat.
The group called for tighter monitoring of local markets, pet shops and online sales pages, describing them as key points in the chain of illegal wildlife trade.
It added that keeping wild animals as pets can lead to serious health and behavioural problems, and in many cases results in their death or makes reintroduction into the wild impossible.
The organisation urged the public not to buy or keep wild animals, saying reducing demand is essential to protecting wildlife.
