Climate change is creating wildlife and domestic animal welfare crises as habitats shift and communities relocate.
Climate change creates animal welfare crises through habitat loss, range shifts, and the disruption of human communities who care for domestic animals. Arctic species face habitat loss as sea ice retreats. Tropical species face bleached coral reefs, disrupted rainfall patterns, and temperature-driven physiological stress. When human communities relocate due to flooding, drought, or extreme heat, their animals — livestock, companion animals, and managed wildlife — face abandonment or forced relocation. Incorporating animal welfare into climate migration and adaptation planning is an emerging but critical welfare challenge.