The bushmeat trade kills millions of wild primates and other animals annually in Central and West Africa, causing suffering at both individual and population levels.
Bushmeat hunting causes acute welfare harms at scale. Wire snares — the most common capture method — inflict severe injuries and trap animals for hours or days before they die or are killed. Primates caught as orphans when their mothers are killed for bushmeat enter the illegal pet trade or face death. The intersection of poverty, food security, and wildlife conservation makes this a complex issue where welfare concerns cannot be addressed without economic alternatives for hunting-dependent communities. Market-reduction strategies, wildlife law enforcement, and alternative livelihood programs are all necessary components.