Animal rescue in Africa
Wildlife rescue in Africa is shaped by snaring, the bushmeat trade, and the collision between wildlife corridors and expanding human settlement. WARN's partner network includes Kenya, Tanzania, South
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
Animal rescue in Africa is dominated by snare removal, anti-poaching support, orphaned-wildlife rehabilitation and human-wildlife conflict mitigation — concentrated in East Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania.
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Donate todayKey Facts
- WARN's African partner-network countries are Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda.
- Snaring is the most prolific form of poaching across East African savannah and forest ecosystems.
- Most rescued large mammals are bycatch — elephants, lions, hyenas and giraffes caught in snares meant for bushmeat species.
- Rehabilitation typically pairs veterinary triage with corridor protection.
- Community-led anti-snaring teams have repeatedly proven more cost-effective than militarised approaches.
What is the snare crisis?
Wire snares are cheap, silent and indiscriminate. They are the dominant tool of subsistence bushmeat poaching across East Africa, but they kill or maim large numbers of non-target species — including elephants, lions, and primates. Snare-removal patrols and veterinary darting are the standard responses.
How is bushmeat different from trafficking?
Bushmeat refers to wild animals killed for local consumption; trafficking generally refers to high-value international trade. The two overlap — bushmeat hunters frequently take by-catch species that enter international trafficking chains.
How is WARN preparing?
WARN's planned East Africa programme will focus on Kenya and Tanzania, in partnership with established in-country rescue organisations and protected-area authorities. Country briefings are published in the Newsroom as the operations come online.
