Welfare Science

Wild Animal Suffering and Ecosystem Restoration

How ecosystem restoration projects interact with wild animal suffering, including potential welfare trade-offs.

Key Facts

Restored ecosystems provide habitat but also increase predation and disease dynamics
Reintroduction programmes require careful welfare assessment of translocated animals
Fire, flood, and drought events cause significant wild animal suffering
Ecosystem restoration rarely considers individual animal welfare explicitly
Wild animal welfare advocates argue for integrating individual welfare into conservation

Welfare Considerations

Ecosystem restoration can deliver significant welfare benefits through improved food and habitat, but may also create new suffering that requires explicit consideration.

What You Can Do

Support conservation organisations that consider individual animal welfare
Advocate for welfare assessment in reintroduction programmes
Learn about wild animal suffering as an emerging welfare issue