Great white pelicans breed in large colonies at East African lakes, with welfare threats from habitat degradation, fishery conflict, and disturbance at nesting sites.
Pelican welfare at breeding colonies is most threatened by human disturbance and conflict with artisanal fisheries. Repeated disturbance causes mass nest abandonment, chick mortality, and chronic stress in breeding adults. Persecution by fishermen who regard pelicans as competitors results in shooting, egg destruction, and poisoning at some sites. Community-based conservation agreements that compensate fishermen and establish colony buffer zones significantly reduce these welfare impacts.