The bushmeat trade kills adult primates and creates orphaned infants who face severe welfare harms, requiring both law enforcement and specialized rehabilitation to address.
Primates killed in the bushmeat trade die from gunshot wounds, snares, or blunt trauma, none of which ensure rapid death. Orphaned infants clinging to dead mothers may be transported for days before arriving at markets. The psychological trauma of maternal loss, confinement, and inappropriate handling causes lasting behavioral damage. Orphaned great apes that cannot be released require lifetime sanctuary care at substantial cost. Reducing bushmeat demand requires addressing food security, enforcement of wildlife protection laws, and market-based behavior change in urban centers where bushmeat is often a luxury product. Sanctuaries provide welfare for current orphans while long-term solutions address root causes.