Ravens are among the most cognitively complex birds, with welfare implications from their high intelligence that makes captivity and anthropogenic disruption particularly impactful.
Highly intelligent birds like ravens require complex environments and social interactions for psychological welfare. Ravens denied cognitive stimulation and social complexity show signs of boredom and may develop repetitive behaviours. The Tower Ravens raise interesting welfare questions about captive wild corvids maintained for cultural rather than conservation purposes. Wild ravens disrupted by human activity including poisoning, shooting, and habitat modification lose critical social relationships and foraging opportunities.