The traditional view that nature involves primarily suffering has been challenged by positive welfare science. Wild animals also experience joy, play, and positive social bonds.
Wild animal positive welfare challenges the assumption that wild life is primarily suffering interrupted by brief neutral periods. The evidence from behavioral ecology shows that wild animals in good ecological conditions spend significant time in play, positive social interaction, and relaxed resting states that reflect positive affective experiences. This has implications for welfare thinking: conservation that restores habitat quality and reduces anthropogenic stressors does not just prevent suffering but enables positive welfare states. The welfare of wild animals is therefore not solely about preventing harm but about protecting the conditions that enable flourishing - a more ambitious and ecologically informed welfare goal.