Wildlife

Wild Great Bustard: UK Reintroduction Welfare and Status

Great bustard reintroduction to Salisbury Plain continues with individual welfare monitoring supporting population establishment.

Key Facts

UK great bustard population reached 32 birds in 2024 through ongoing reintroduction from Russia
Great bustards require large areas of open farmland with minimal disturbance
Males perform spectacular lekking displays requiring undisturbed territory for breeding success
Individual welfare monitoring through wing tags and camera traps tracks survival and behaviour

Welfare Considerations

Great bustard individuals face welfare challenges during establishment including territory finding, social integration, and predator avoidance in unfamiliar habitats. Welfare monitoring that enables rapid response to sick or injured birds reduces individual mortality. Each successfully established bustard contributes to population resilience.

What You Can Do

Support Great Bustard Group reintroduction and monitoring programmes
Respect the Military Training Area boundaries that protect bustard breeding habitat
Advocate for sustainable farmland management adjacent to bustard release sites