White storks that breed in Europe overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa where they face welfare threats including hunting, poisoning, and habitat degradation on their wintering grounds.
White stork welfare cannot be separated from their full annual cycle including wintering areas in Africa. Threats on wintering grounds including pesticide poisoning and hunting cause mortality and welfare harm that undermines breeding season conservation efforts in Europe. Migratory species require international conservation approaches that protect animals throughout their range. Pesticide poisoning in locust control is a particular welfare concern as mass mortality events can kill thousands of storks through acutely toxic compounds. Alternative locust control methods, hunting regulations, and power line mitigation on African migration routes are all welfare-relevant conservation priorities.