Rapid permafrost thaw across Arctic regions is fundamentally altering ecosystems and creating novel welfare challenges for animals adapted to frozen landscapes over millions of years.
Permafrost thaw creates welfare harms for Arctic animals through multiple intersecting pathways. Animals whose dens and burrows collapse face acute stress and exposure. Species whose prey depends on specific frozen conditions face starvation as food availability changes rapidly - faster than evolutionary adaptation can respond. Disease emergence from thawing ancient permafrost (including anthrax) creates novel, painful deaths for ungulates. The compounding of these stressors means many Arctic animals are experiencing chronic physiological stress from an environment that is changing beyond their adaptive capacity. This represents one of the most profound and geographically widespread welfare crises caused by climate change.