Wildlife Welfare

Wild Puffin Climate Welfare

Atlantic puffins face significant welfare challenges from climate change reducing sand eel availability - their primary prey - threatening breeding success and individual survival.

Key Facts

UK puffin populations breed on islands around Scotland, northern England, and Wales
Sand eels are the primary prey for puffin chick-rearing and their abundance is climate-sensitive
Warmer sea temperatures reduce sand eel availability causing widespread chick starvation
Puffin colonies on Skomer and the Farne Islands have monitored productivity for decades
Ocean temperature projections suggest continued decline in sand eel abundance

Welfare Considerations

Puffin chick starvation when sand eels fail represents acute welfare suffering at colony scale. This climate-driven welfare impact affects thousands of puffin chicks in poor years, linking individual animal welfare directly to global carbon emissions.

What You Can Do

Support the RSPB and seabird conservation organisations monitoring puffin populations
Reduce your carbon footprint as the most effective long-term puffin welfare intervention
Advocate for climate-smart fisheries management that protects sand eel populations