Pine marten reintroduction to Wales and England is progressing following successful Scottish recovery, and welfare protocols for translocated animals are critical to individual and programme success.
Translocation welfare requires careful assessment of capture stress, transport conditions and post-release monitoring. Pine martens face acclimatisation challenges in unfamiliar territories following release, including finding dens, establishing ranges and avoiding road mortality. Post-release monitoring allows welfare interventions if individuals fail to establish successfully.