Bushmeat

The bushmeat trade – the killing of wild animals for food – is one of the biggest threats to the welfare and survival of wildlife today.

Animals used for bushmeat in Africa include elephants, hippos, antelope, chimpanzees and gorillas. Other species are targeted elsewhere in the world.

Bushmeat hunting, or poaching, has evolved from a low level activity into an international commercial trade. WSPA is working with member societies to counter the threat of poaching in Africa.

Why is wildlife poaching increasing?

Wild animals have always been a source of food, but the rapid growth in Africa’s human population means demand for bushmeat has increased. Animal populations cannot regenerate quickly enough to keep pace with the numbers killed for consumption.

The main factors contributing to the increase in poaching are:

• Growing human populations.
• Advances in technology that provide access to previously inaccessible wildlife populations.
• Weak governance, unemployment and poverty.
• The commercialization of hunting.
• The breaking up of forests by logging and mining companies, permitting access into remote areas.
• War and civil strife.

What are the animal welfare concerns?

A snare is removed by a team in Kenya's Tsavo National Park
© TBC

Poachers use guns and snares to kill and catch animals, leading to brutally inhumane, painful deaths. These methods can also result in severe injuries, which may lead to malnutrition and starvation.

For those surviving animals, the breakup of family units causes intense distress. If not butchered with their parents, young apes and monkeys may be sold as pets. Rapidly outgrowing their initial cuddliness, these animals often end up in chains.

The loss of habitats and extinction of species is a major conservation concern. African elephants, gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees are just a few of the endangered species that are captured, killed and sold as bushmeat.

Stopping the trade: WSPA’s work

WSPA has been building and supporting sanctuaries, campaigning, distributing educational materials and conducting and funding investigations into the bushmeat trade since 1995.

WSPA supports two of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust de-snaring teams, who carry out vital work in the field, and works with member societies like Lola ya Bonobo, who rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and confiscated apes.

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