Wildlife

Wild Puffin Welfare and Climate Threats

Atlantic puffins face growing welfare threats from climate-driven changes to their food supply and nesting habitat.

Key Facts

Puffins rely on sand eels as their primary food source for chick rearing
Warming seas have caused sand eel populations to shift north
Failed breeding seasons leave adults in good condition but chicks starve
Puffin colonies in southern UK have experienced significant declines
Marine protected areas help but cannot fully offset climate-driven prey shifts

Welfare Considerations

Starvation of puffin chicks represents a significant welfare concern, causing slow death over days. Adult birds suffer chronic stress when foraging becomes difficult.

What You Can Do

Support marine conservation charities working to protect puffin habitat
Back policies reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow ocean warming
Donate to seabird monitoring programs tracking colony health