Ospreys recovered from near extinction in the UK through conservation intervention. Their ongoing welfare faces threats from fishing line entanglement and illegal persecution.
Wild osprey welfare is shaped by threats during both breeding and migration. Entanglement in discarded fishing line causes drowning and limb injuries that are often fatal without intervention. Nest disturbance by photographers and recreational visitors causes nest failure and chick abandonment. During migration, ospreys face illegal hunting in some countries. Conservation successes demonstrate that targeted protection and habitat management can restore species from near-extinction, but ongoing vigilance is required to prevent returning to historical population lows.