Golden eagles are slowly recovering in Scotland but face ongoing threats from illegal persecution, habitat quality and food availability that affect individual welfare and population viability.
Golden eagle welfare is threatened by the same illegal persecution that has historically prevented the species from recolonising its former range in England and Wales. Each poisoned or shot eagle represents both a direct welfare harm and a conservation loss. Satellite tagging has exposed the scale of illegal killing that would otherwise go undetected, creating accountability for individual welfare harms.