Bushmeat Hunting and Primate Welfare in West Africa

The bushmeat trade in Central and West Africa kills millions of wild animals annually, with primates including chimpanzees and gorillas among the most welfare-affected species.

Key Facts

An estimated 5 million tonnes of bushmeat are harvested annually from Central African forests
Great apes including chimpanzees, gorillas, and bonobos are hunted despite CITES Appendix I protection
Snaring is the most common method used, causing prolonged suffering before death or rescue
Infant primates are often taken alive when mothers are killed, entering the illegal pet trade
Bushmeat hunting is often driven by food insecurity and lack of affordable protein alternatives

Welfare Considerations

Bushmeat hunting causes severe welfare harms across multiple dimensions. Snaring produces injuries including limb loss, infection, and slow death; primates caught in snares may suffer for days. Infants surviving the killing of their mothers face acute trauma and deprivation — many die in transit or in captivity. Yet the welfare critique of bushmeat hunting must engage honestly with its social context: for many rural communities in Central Africa, bushmeat is an important and sometimes irreplaceable protein source. Sustainable alternatives, law enforcement, and community engagement need to work together. A purely condemnatory approach that ignores food security fails both humans and animals.

What You Can Do

Support organisations providing sustainable protein alternatives in bushmeat hunting communities
Donate to anti-poaching programmes specifically targeting primate snaring
Advocate for ranger capacity and resources in Central African protected areas
Oppose the illegal international pet trade in infant primates