Animal Welfare Impacts of Drought and Water Scarcity

Climate-driven droughts are increasingly causing animal welfare emergencies in wild and domestic populations.

Key Facts

Drought caused over 1 million livestock deaths in Kenya in 2022
Wild animals in drought-affected regions experience starvation, dehydration, and increased conflict
Water source degradation from drought concentrates animals and increases disease transmission
Drought severity and frequency are increasing due to climate change in many regions

Welfare Considerations

Drought causes acute and chronic animal welfare emergencies. Wild animals congregate at shrinking water sources, increasing competition, disease transmission, and predation risk. Livestock in drought-affected regions suffer from feed shortages and water deprivation. The 2022 East African drought caused catastrophic wildlife and livestock losses. As climate change intensifies drought frequency and severity, the welfare implications for billions of animals are profound. Addressing climate change is therefore inseparable from addressing animal welfare at global scale.

What You Can Do

Support climate action as a fundamental animal welfare intervention
Donate to emergency wildlife welfare response during drought events
Advocate for drought preparedness in livestock farming policy
Support water management systems that protect wildlife access during dry periods