Wildlife

Great Bustard Welfare in UK Reintroduction Programme

The great bustard was reintroduced to Salisbury Plain from 2004 after extinction in the UK, with detailed welfare monitoring of individual birds essential to the success of this ambitious programme.

Key Facts

Great bustards were extinct in the UK by the 1840s due to hunting and habitat loss
Over 100 birds released on Salisbury Plain since 2004 from Russian populations
Salisbury Plain military training area provides the open grassland habitat they require
Wing tagging and satellite tracking enables welfare monitoring of individuals
Predation by foxes is the primary mortality cause for released birds
First successful UK breeding since the 19th century occurred in 2019

Welfare Considerations

Individual great bustards released into a novel environment face disorientation, predation risk, and the challenges of learning to exploit a new landscape without maternal guidance. Birds that wander off Salisbury Plain into suboptimal habitat face higher predation and food stress. Welfare monitoring through satellite tracking allows rapid intervention when birds enter high-risk areas. Each surviving bird represents a significant conservation and welfare success.

What You Can Do

Support the Great Bustard Group which runs the reintroduction programme
Report any great bustard sightings to the Great Bustard Group immediately
Respect viewing distances when observing bustards to avoid disturbance
Advocate for fox predator management on Salisbury Plain to support bustard welfare
Donate to the Great Bustard Group conservation and monitoring fund
Engage with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on wider conservation supporting the reintroduction