Wildlife Welfare

Wild Puffin Climate Welfare

Atlantic puffins face climate-driven shifts in prey availability that affect breeding success and individual welfare. Conservation responses to climate impacts protect puffin welfare.

Key Facts

Sand eels, the primary prey of puffins, have shifted distribution due to warming seas
Chick starvation rates increase when sand eel availability near colonies is poor
UK puffin colonies including Skomer and the Farnes are being monitored for climate impacts
Climate change represents a long-term existential threat to some puffin colonies
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the fundamental welfare and conservation intervention

Welfare Considerations

Puffin chick starvation represents direct, significant welfare harm linked to climate-driven prey shifts. Climate action is both a welfare and conservation imperative for this charismatic species.

What You Can Do

Support climate action as a form of wildlife welfare advocacy
Visit puffin colonies through wildlife charities to support conservation funding
Report puffin sightings to citizen science monitoring schemes
Learn about the climate threats to UK seabirds and what is being done