Fueled internationally by an increasing demand and market for illegal wildlife - and locally by issues of food and livelihood insecurity - wildlife, ecosystems, and humans in Africa are greatly affected by bushmeat trade and consumption. The primary animals targeted for bushmeat include chimpanzees, gorillas, elephants, monkeys, guinea fowl, among others.

Some of the consequences of bushmeat trade and consumption are: (1) dangerous and illegal hunting methods, such as wire snares; (2) hunting of endangered species; (3) extinction of species; (4) lack of food security for rural populations; (5) and the spread of zoonotic diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19.

We view understanding the root causes of this problem as an essential part of developing lasting solutions, which is why we look at issues of poverty, displacement, climate change, and food & livelihood insecurity when thinking about the kinds of changes that need to be made to promote animal welfare.

Poaching is prolific throughout Africa, and especially in Kenya due to its abundant wildlife. Although the international trade of ivory was banned in 1989 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the issue is still widespread and ivory trade is active around the world. In 2019, approximately 37, 000 African elephants were poached, contributing to a $7-$10 billion dollar per year industry worldwide.

Most people are unaware that elephants are killed in order to harvest their ivory, and many would be surprised to find out that the USA is the second leading consumer of illegal ivory worldwide, following China. The consequences of poaching are devastating, cruel, and putting many species at risk of extinction.

Countering illegal poaching will require a holistic understanding of the incentives and insecurities driving it, as well as the development of alternative livelihoods and stricter government and market regulation.

The donkey skin trade is a global crisis rooted in East Africa, with projections estimating that the species could be wiped out by 2023 if nothing is done. In Kenya, approximately 360, 000 donkeys were slaughtered between 2016 and 2019, causing devastating harm to this species while also affecting 36, 000 households that rely upon these creatures for their livelihoods.

Kenya houses four abattoirs, or slaughter houses, fueled by a demand for their skins in China. ANAW has partnered with other organizations to demand these abattoirs be closed and that the trade of donkey skins be banned to ensure the continuation of this remarkable species.

This issue again highlights how animal welfare is deeply intertwined with wider economic systems that are vulnerable to corruption and that enable the exploitation of the natural world and its inhabitants for profit.

There are worrying trends towards factory farming and an increase in animal exploitation for food occurring across East Africa. Understanding the roots of these trends and the economic incentives driving these changes and engaging local communities in the origins of their food and the welfare standards behind certain consumption practices, is essential to preventing both the environmental and ecosystem degradation that comes with factory farming, and the often egregious suffering of those animals that are farmed en masse for human consumption.