Welfare of Animals in Drought and Water Stress

Droughts create acute and chronic welfare crises for wild, farmed, and companion animals through dehydration, starvation, and ecosystem collapse.

Key Facts

The 2019-2020 Australian bushfire and drought season killed or displaced approximately 3 billion animals
Drought reduces wildlife access to water, increasing predation risk at remaining water sources
Livestock mortality from drought is significant — the 2022 East Africa drought killed millions of livestock
Dehydration is one of the most painful ways animals die, with severe physiological suffering
Climate projections show drought frequency and intensity increasing in most global regions

Welfare Considerations

Drought creates welfare suffering at a massive scale. Wild animals concentrate at remaining water sources under extreme heat stress, increasing predation and disease transmission. Farm animals may be inadequately watered as costs rise. Companion animals in households affected by water restrictions may have access curtailed. Emergency responses to drought — wildlife watering stations, livestock destocking support, hay provision — can reduce acute suffering. Long-term, addressing climate drivers is the only durable solution.

What You Can Do

Support wildlife watering station programs in drought-affected regions
Advocate for farm animal water access standards that survive drought conditions
Donate to drought emergency wildlife relief programs during declared drought events
Reduce your carbon footprint to address the climate drivers of increasing drought frequency