Armed conflict causes devastating welfare harm to both companion and wild animals through direct violence, abandonment, and habitat destruction.
Animals in conflict zones face a complete collapse of the human-provided welfare protections they depend on. Companion animals are abandoned or starved when owners flee. Zoo animals are trapped in bombed enclosures without food or veterinary care. Wild animals whose ranges overlap conflict areas face poaching surges and habitat destruction. International humanitarian frameworks need to include animal welfare provisions for conflict response.