The potential reintroduction of grey wolves to Scotland raises complex welfare and ecological questions about predator-prey dynamics, livestock conflict and the wolves' own welfare needs.
Reintroduced wolves in Europe have faced illegal persecution, road mortality and territorial conflict in fragmented landscapes. Wolves themselves have complex social welfare needs; pack disruption through mortality causes significant behavioural and reproductive consequences. Predation by wolves causes rapid prey death with less suffering than many alternatives, but individual prey welfare must also be considered.