Wildlife hospitals treat thousands of injured and orphaned animals annually; effective triage, treatment, and release back to suitable habitat depends on both veterinary expertise and appropriate facilities.
Wildlife casualty care presents a unique welfare challenge: treatment must minimise human exposure to avoid imprinting while ensuring adequate medical care and recovery. The stress of captivity compounds injury, so housing design that provides appropriate hiding opportunities and species-specific conditions is essential. Welfare assessment during rehabilitation should monitor not just physical recovery but behavioural indicators of readiness for release.