Immunocontraception offers a humane alternative to lethal culling for managing overabundant wildlife populations. Programs for deer, horses, and elephants demonstrate effectiveness and welfare advantages.
Immunocontraception avoids the acute welfare trauma of lethal culling and the chronic welfare harm of captive holding. Treated animals remain in their habitat with intact social groups. The welfare costs include darting stress for treatment and monitoring, which requires experienced teams. Compared to alternative management methods, immunocontraception consistently produces better welfare outcomes for target populations.