European bison were extinct in the wild until captive-bred animals were reintroduced — welfare science guides population management, herd social structure, and conflict with agricultural land uses.
Bison welfare in reintroduction programmes depends on herd social stability, habitat quality, and management of conflict with humans. Disruption of herd social structure through culling causes stress and instability. Insufficient territory forces bison into agricultural areas where conflict and risk of legal culling increase. Supplementary winter feeding reduces nutritional stress but creates dependency that complicates long-term management. Compensation schemes for farmers reduce pressure for bison removal.