Wild animal suffering from predation, starvation, disease, and parasites represents a major component of total animal welfare that requires ethical consideration.
Wild animal suffering from natural causes including predation, parasites, disease, starvation, and weather represents enormous welfare burden that is rarely considered in ethical frameworks focused only on human-caused suffering. The scientific framing of wild animal welfare asks whether and how human interventions could reduce wild suffering while acknowledging enormous complexity. Ecological interventions that reduce wildlife disease or improve habitat quality provide both conservation and welfare benefits.