Great bustards are the world's heaviest flying birds, reintroduced to Salisbury Plain where their welfare depends on predator management and disturbance control.
Reintroduced great bustards face welfare challenges from predation, disturbance, and acclimatisation to UK conditions. Fox predation is the leading mortality cause for juveniles - targeted predator management at reintroduction sites directly reduces individual welfare costs. Military training disturbance at Salisbury Plain requires careful coordination. The welfare of a small, recovering population means every individual matters for conservation success.