Pelicans are large, social, colonial waterbirds with specific dietary, space, and social needs that present welfare challenges in captive settings.
Pelican welfare in captivity depends on providing water access adequate for their distinctive fishing behaviour, social group of sufficient size, and flight opportunity where birds are physically capable. Wing clipping to retain birds in display without netting is a welfare-negative practice that permanently restricts behaviour. Pelicans in adequate enclosures with compatible social groups and appropriate fish feeding demonstrate naturalistic behaviour including communal fishing attempts, social grooming, and display behaviour. Rehabilitation programmes that successfully release injured pelicans require the same welfare standards as long-term captive facilities, with the additional requirement that human habituation is minimised to protect release viability.