The internet has emerged as one of the biggest threats to endangered species, according to conservationists who are meeting in Doha, Qatar.

正在卡塔尔首都多哈举行会议的环境保护论者一致认为，因特网的出现成为威胁到濒危物种的最大因素之一。

Japan opposed a proposed ban on the export of Atlantic bluefin tuna

Campaigners say it is easier than ever before to buy and sell anything from live baby lions to polar bear pelts¹（毛皮） on online auction² sites and chatrooms.

The findings were presented at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约).

Several proposals to give endangered species more protection were defeated.

Delegates will vote on changes to the trade in ivory（象牙） later this week.

Web effect

"The internet is becoming the dominant³ factor overall in the global trade in protected species," Paul Todd of the International Fund for Animal Welfare was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

He said thousands of endangered species are regularly traded on the internet, as buyers and sellers take advantage of the anonymity⁴（匿名） - and vast global market - the world wide web can offer.

Those trying to police illegal sales say the size of problem is almost impossible to estimate. They say the US is the biggest market, but that Europe, China, Russia and Australia also play a large part.

On Sunday, delegates voted to ban all international trade in a rare type of Iranian salamander（火蜥蜴） , the Kaiser's spotted⁵ newt（蝾螈） , which the World Wildlife Fund says has been devastated⁶ by the internet trade.

But more high-profile attempts to ban trade in polar bears, bluefin tuna（金枪鱼） and rare corals have all failed, leaving environmental activists⁷ dismayed, the BBC's Stephanie Hancock reports from Doha.

A proposal from the US and Sweden to regulate the trade in red and pink coral - which is crafted into expensive jewellery and sold extensively on the web - was defeated.

Delegates voted the idea down mostly over concerns the increased regulations might impact poor fishing communities.