Releasing captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure - YES or NO?
In September 2025, Operation Turtle Dove (OTD) and its partners issued a statement regarding the release of captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure. OTD stated that they do not support such releases because: • They do not meet IUCN guidelines or DEFRA’s code for species reintroductions. • In the UK, the primary factor in their decline is the availability of seed food and nesting habitat during the breeding season. • The UK population is considered part of a recovering western...
