The killing of wild animals in Africa for food is known as the ‘bushmeat trade'. It is one of the biggest threats to the survival and welfare of wildlife today.  WSPA have been campaigning, distributing educational materials and conducting investigations targeting this industry since 1995.  

Wildlife poaching on the rise

Until recently, bushmeat was mainly eaten to supplement a low protein human diet, and the animals were captured in a sustainable way.  Today, bushmeat hunting, or poaching, has evolved from a low level activity to a large national and international commercial trade.  Up to five million tonnes of bushmeat are traded annually in the Congo Basin region of Africa.  This area contains the world's second largest rainforest, stretching across ten countries and home to more than half of Africa's animal species.

The main factors that have contributed to this increase are:

• Increasing human populations
• Logging and mining companies breaking up forests and forcing animals from their homes
• War and civil strife
• Weak governance
• Unemployment
• Poverty

Welfare concerns of poaching

Some of the major conservation and welfare concerns are:

• Extinction
• Orphaned animals (particularly primates) are sold to the pet/entertainment trade
• Slow and painful deaths
• Severe injuries
• Malnutrition and starvation

What can be done to stop the poaching?

WSPA has been campaigning, distributing educational materials and conducting investigations targeting this trade since 1995. In addition, we have funded sanctuaries to provide homes in the following countries:

• Indonesia
• Guinea
• Sierra Leone
• Democratic Republic of Congo

Please help end the bushmeat trade and fund other animal welfare work >>

For comprehensive information about the bushmeat trade, download our full report
Bushmeat Report 2006 - part 1 (PDF 2.56 MB)>>
Bushmeat Report 2006 - part 2 (PDF 2.24 MB)>>
Appendix 1 (PDF 271KB)>>
Appendix 2 (PDF 72KB)>>
Appendix 3 (PDF 205KB)>>
Appendix 4 (PDF 98KB)>>