Peregrine falcons recovered from near extinction caused by DDT pesticide use, demonstrating that wildlife welfare can be dramatically improved through targeted regulatory action. Their story offers lessons for current welfare challenges.
The recovery of peregrine falcons from near-extinction is a welfare success story that begins with the identification of a specific human-caused harm — DDT contamination of the food chain — and ends with regulatory action that removed that harm and allowed the species to recover. This narrative demonstrates that wildlife welfare can be dramatically improved when the cause of suffering is clearly identified, the appropriate intervention is implemented, and sustained follow-through occurs. The peregrine story is also a reminder that industrial chemicals and agricultural practices can cause wildlife welfare harms far from their point of application. Monitoring for emerging chemical threats to wildlife and maintaining the regulatory capacity to act quickly when harm is identified are lessons drawn directly from this recovery.