The great white pelican breeds in large colonies in Romania and Greece and its welfare is dependent on undisturbed wetland habitats and abundant fish populations.
Key welfare threats include nest colony disturbance from recreational boating, fishing, and ecotourism, which can cause complete breeding failure. Overfishing reduces prey availability, causing chick starvation. Entanglement in fishing gear causes injury and drowning. Wetland management decisions at the Danube Delta directly affect breeding success and bird welfare.