Wild Animal Welfare

Wild Great Bustard UK Monitoring

Great bustards have been reintroduced to Salisbury Plain after 170 years' absence - monitoring supports individual welfare during establishment.

Key Facts

Great bustards were extinct in the UK for 170 years before reintroduction began in 2004
Released birds from Russia receive supplementary feeding during the initial establishment period
Salisbury Plain military training area provides undisturbed grassland habitat
Breeding attempts have occurred but success has been limited by predation and human disturbance
Satellite tracking reveals individual ranging behaviour and welfare status

Welfare Considerations

Individual reintroduced great bustards face welfare challenges including unfamiliar habitat, predation, and human disturbance. Active monitoring and supplementary support during establishment directly benefits individual bird welfare in this critical reintroduction phase.

What You Can Do

Support the Great Bustard Group's reintroduction monitoring programme
Respect access restrictions on Salisbury Plain during bustard breeding season
Engage with military estate management that underpins great bustard habitat protection