Wire snares set for bushmeat hunting injure and kill chimpanzees throughout their range, causing permanent disability and pain in survivors who lose hands or feet to snare entanglement.
Chimpanzees caught in snares endure prolonged pain from wire cutting into flesh, sometimes for days before the snare breaks or the animal escapes. Those who survive with amputated limbs face challenges in climbing, food acquisition, and social participation that affect welfare for life. Snare removal patrol programs directly prevent this suffering by removing traps before animals encounter them. Every snare removed is a potential welfare harm prevented. Supporting snare removal programs in chimpanzee habitat is one of the most direct wildlife welfare interventions available.