Rewilding programs reintroduce apex predators to restore ecosystem function. The welfare of reintroduced carnivores during establishment is a critical and often overlooked consideration.
Rewilded carnivore welfare involves acute challenges during the reintroduction phase and ongoing challenges as individuals establish territories in unfamiliar landscapes. Captive-reared animals may lack the hunting skills, landscape knowledge, and social behaviors needed for survival. Mortality rates in the first year of reintroduction can exceed 50% in poorly prepared programs. Welfare-conscious reintroduction programs maximize pre-release preparation through soft-release techniques, prey availability assessment, human conflict mitigation, and intensive post-release monitoring. Long-term welfare of established populations requires maintaining prey abundance, managing human conflict proactively, and facilitating natural dispersal to maintain population health.