Bushmeat Trade and Primate Welfare

The bushmeat trade causes enormous primate welfare suffering and drives population declines across Central and West Africa.

Key Facts

An estimated 4-6 million tonnes of bushmeat are harvested annually in Central Africa
Primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas, are specifically targeted for high-value bushmeat markets
Snares cause prolonged suffering before death in many bushmeat victims
The bushmeat trade creates wildlife orphans — infant primates whose mothers were killed — requiring costly rehabilitation
Demand has shifted from subsistence to urban luxury consumption in many regions

Welfare Considerations

Bushmeat hunting causes individual suffering through inhumane killing methods, snare trapping that causes prolonged distress before death, and orphaning of infants who then face either death or the trauma of rehabilitation. At population scale, it is a leading driver of great ape and primate decline. The urbanisation of bushmeat demand — from subsistence need to urban delicacy — has made the market more tractable through demand reduction rather than enforcement alone. Consumer education in urban markets alongside alternative protein programs are the primary interventions.

What You Can Do

Support organisations working on bushmeat demand reduction in urban African markets
Fund primate sanctuaries that rehabilitate bushmeat orphans
Advocate for international development programs that include alternative protein and livelihood support
Support the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force and Great Apes Survival Partnership
Learn about the connection between forest governance and bushmeat control