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 publishes educational country pages for Kenya, Tan
By WARN Research & Conservation Team Last 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 country briefings cover Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda; any selected recipient or paid grant needs separate confirmation.
- 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 East Africa briefings explain needs including those in Kenya and Tanzania. Any proposed support would require a suitable organisation, an assessed budget and a defined purpose before a grant decision. Publishing a country briefing is not evidence of an operating project, partnership or payment.
