Wildlife

Primate Bushmeat Trade and Welfare

Great apes and other primates are hunted for bushmeat in Central and West Africa. This trade causes individual welfare harm while threatening populations and increasing zoonotic disease risk.

Key Facts

Great ape bushmeat hunting is illegal in most range countries but enforcement is limited
Orphaned infant apes are often captured alive for the pet trade when their mothers are killed for bushmeat
Bushmeat hunting exposes hunters and consumers to zoonotic pathogens including Ebola and monkeypox
Economic development, alternative protein availability, and law enforcement together address bushmeat hunting drivers

Welfare Considerations

Primate bushmeat hunting causes individual welfare harm from the hunting method and population-level harm through the conservation crisis it drives. Infant apes captured after their mothers are killed face the worst welfare outcomes in the pet trade. Addressing bushmeat requires a combination of law enforcement, economic alternatives, and community engagement that respects food security needs while protecting primates.

What You Can Do

Support organizations working on bushmeat law enforcement and alternative livelihoods in primate range states
Donate to great ape sanctuary organizations caring for orphaned bushmeat trade survivors
Advocate for international wildlife crime enforcement cooperation on great ape protection
Learn about the links between bushmeat trade, zoonotic disease risk, and conservation to engage advocates effectively