Wild Primate Bushmeat Hunting Impacts

Bushmeat hunting of primates causes direct welfare harm and threatens populations of great apes and other primates across tropical regions.

Key Facts

Bushmeat hunting is a leading driver of great ape and monkey population decline in Africa and Asia
Primates killed for bushmeat often include nursing mothers whose orphaned infants are captured for trade
Live capture during bushmeat hunting feeds the illegal pet and entertainment animal trade
Indigenous subsistence hunting has different welfare and conservation implications than commercial bushmeat trade
Alternative protein programs have reduced bushmeat hunting pressure in some communities

Welfare Considerations

Primate bushmeat hunting causes acute welfare harm — death or capture — to individuals and longer-term harm to social groups through disruption. The particularly troubling dimension involves infants orphaned when nursing mothers are killed, who then face capture into the illegal trade or death from neglect. Commercial bushmeat trade operates at a scale incompatible with primate population viability in hunted areas. Addressing root causes — poverty, food insecurity, and demand from urban markets — requires integrated approaches combining enforcement, alternative livelihoods, and community engagement.

What You Can Do

Support organizations working on alternative livelihoods in bushmeat hunting communities
Avoid purchasing or consuming primate bushmeat products
Support international efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade including primate trafficking
Donate to great ape sanctuary networks that rehabilitate orphaned primates
Advocate for international support to countries protecting primate habitats