Bushmeat hunting in Central Africa provides protein for millions of people while threatening wildlife populations through over-harvest. The welfare and conservation dimensions of this trade require culturally sensitive engagement.
Bushmeat trade welfare requires distinguishing between subsistence hunting by indigenous communities — a traditional, culturally significant practice with limited population impact — and commercial bushmeat trade that supplies urban markets with wild-caught animals at unsustainable volumes. Traditional snare trapping, the most common method in both subsistence and commercial contexts, causes significant welfare harm: animals die slowly from injuries, dehydration, and stress over hours to days, and may attract predators while still alive. The welfare case for snare improvement — quick-kill snares designed to reduce time to death — does not require opposing bushmeat hunting entirely. Alternative protein programs that reduce bushmeat dependency address both welfare and conservation goals, but must be accompanied by cultural sensitivity and genuine economic viability to succeed.