Scotland is at the forefront of rewilding in the UK, with projects reintroducing species and restoring habitats that raise animal welfare considerations alongside conservation goals.
Reintroduced animals face significant welfare challenges during the establishment phase: unfamiliar territory, competition with existing wildlife, persecution by landowners, and road traffic. Post-release monitoring for welfare as well as survival rates is essential. Soft release methods that allow gradual habituation to release sites generally show better welfare and survival outcomes than hard release. The long-term welfare benefits of functioning ecosystems are significant.