An urban rewilding group is conducting a study to explore the possibility of reintroducing white storks to London as part of an effort to establish their presence in the city. White storks were once common in Britain, with nests on rooftops and in trees, but they vanished centuries ago due to hunting and habitat loss. Citizen Zoo, an organization specializing in community-led urban rewilding, is undertaking an assessment to determine London’s potential as a “white stork-friendly city.” This will involve mapping suitable habitats, discussing the idea with boroughs, and surveying public opinions.
The White Stork Project in Sussex has been working since 2016 to create colonies of rehabilitated injured white storks at Knepp and Wadhurst Park. These reintroduced populations can attract wild white storks traveling from Europe. There have been 472 sightings of white storks in London between 2016 and 2023, marking a significant increase compared to the 27 records of the birds in the four decades preceding
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/04/rewilding-group-to-assess-possible-return-of-white-storks-to-london
