Wildlife

Wild Great Bustard Advanced: Salisbury Plain Welfare 2026

Great bustard welfare on Salisbury Plain in 2026 reflects both population growth and ongoing management challenges.

Key Facts

The 2026 Salisbury Plain bustard population reached 32 adults with successful breeding
Young bustards face predation from foxes during their vulnerable first months
Annual releases from Russia supplement the breeding population maintaining genetic diversity
Military training area protection provides inadvertent but effective disturbance management

Welfare Considerations

Great bustard welfare on Salisbury Plain is managed actively through predator control, supplementary feeding during harsh winters, and annual release of young birds. Each management intervention has welfare costs and benefits that require careful evaluation. The growth of the population demonstrates that active welfare management is producing results.

What You Can Do

Support Great Bustard Group welfare management and monitoring programmes
Avoid driving or walking in bustard territory areas without authorisation
Advocate for continued military training area access restrictions that protect bustard welfare