Armed conflict creates catastrophic conditions for both wild and domestic animals through direct harm, disruption of veterinary services, and displacement of communities that manage wildlife areas.
Armed conflict creates welfare emergencies for animals through multiple pathways: direct killing, abandonment, disruption of veterinary care, displacement of conservation personnel, and collapse of the community structures that managed human-wildlife coexistence. Animals caught in conflict zones receive no welfare consideration from combatants. International animal welfare organizations have developed conflict response protocols but face access and security constraints that limit their effectiveness. Post-conflict welfare recovery requires rebuilding veterinary infrastructure alongside human health systems.