Rewilding projects reintroduce species and restore ecological processes, but the welfare implications for individual animals deserve careful consideration alongside ecological benefits.
Rewilding is ecologically valuable but not welfare-neutral. Reintroduced animals face stressful translocation, novel environments, and often high first-year mortality. Predator reintroductions can increase prey animal suffering through more frequent predation events. These welfare costs may be outweighed by long-term ecological and individual welfare benefits, but rigorous welfare monitoring during reintroductions and transparent reporting are essential.