Wild Chimpanzee Bushmeat Trade and Conservation Impact

The bushmeat trade in Central and West Africa drives chimpanzee population decline and causes severe animal welfare harms.

Key Facts

Chimpanzees are listed as Endangered with an estimated 170,000-300,000 remaining, declining due to multiple threats
The bushmeat trade kills an estimated 600,000+ great apes annually across Central Africa
Wire snares are indiscriminate and kill or maim chimpanzees while targeting other species
Infant chimpanzees are often taken alive after their mothers are killed for bushmeat and enter the illegal pet trade
Ebolaoutbreaks transmitted from bushmeat contact kill chimpanzees and humans alike
Economic alternatives to bushmeat hunting, including community conservation enterprises, have shown effectiveness
GRASP (the Great Apes Survival Partnership) coordinates international conservation efforts across range states

Welfare Considerations

Snare injuries cause severe suffering - amputated or deeply lacerated limbs, chronic infection, and painful deaths. Orphaned infants face profound psychological trauma and rarely survive without intensive rehabilitation. Great apes have complex emotional lives and social bonds; the loss of mothers and family members causes measurable grief and lasting behavioral changes.

What You Can Do

Support Jane Goodall Institute and similar organizations working on bushmeat alternatives
Advocate for strengthened enforcement of CITES protections for great apes
Donate to chimpanzee orphan rehabilitation programs in range countries
Support community conservation enterprises that provide income alternatives to hunting
Learn about the economic and cultural factors driving the bushmeat trade to understand effective interventions