The Dalmatian pelican is one of the worlds largest flying birds and critically dependent on undisturbed wetland colonies in Greece and the Balkans, where conservation actions have helped stabilise its population.
Dalmatian pelican welfare improved dramatically following community-based conservation agreements at Greek breeding sites, demonstrating that conflict resolution between wildlife and fishing communities yields direct welfare benefits. Entanglement in fishing nets remains the most significant ongoing welfare threat, causing drowning, wing injury, and exhaustion. Climate-related changes in lake water levels also threaten nesting platforms. Guardian schemes employing local fishermen as conservation monitors have proved highly effective in reducing disturbance and entanglement incidents.