Wild Animal Welfare and Climate Change

Climate change is creating new and intensifying existing welfare challenges for wild animals through habitat disruption, extreme weather events, and food system changes.

Key Facts

Extreme heat events cause direct mortality in wild animals including mass die-offs of flying foxes and marine iguanas
Coral bleaching from warming oceans causes starvation of fish that depend on coral reef ecosystems
Polar bears face longer fasting seasons as sea ice retreats, causing body condition decline and cub mortality
Migratory species experience phenological mismatch when food peaks no longer coincide with migration timing
Wildfire frequency and intensity increases cause acute mortality and displacement of wildlife
Sea level rise threatens nesting sites of sea turtles, shorebirds, and other coastal wildlife

Welfare Considerations

Climate change is causing both acute welfare emergencies - heat stroke deaths, starvation, habitat destruction - and chronic welfare deterioration through increased stress, reduced food security, and habitat instability. Wild animal welfare and climate action are deeply connected causes. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is animal welfare policy at the largest scale. Individual climate action, renewable energy support, and advocacy for climate policy are simultaneously climate and animal welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Reduce your personal carbon footprint through dietary changes, transport, and energy choices
Support renewable energy policies and organizations fighting climate change
Donate to wildlife welfare organizations responding to climate-related wildlife crises
Advocate for climate policy that accounts for wildlife welfare impacts
Support habitat protection and restoration that builds wildlife climate resilience
Learn about climate impacts on local wildlife species to connect global issues to local action