Wildlife rehabilitation centres care for millions of injured and orphaned wild animals annually, with welfare outcomes highly dependent on care quality and release success.
Wildlife in rehabilitation centres experience stress from captivity, handling, and novel environments. Inappropriate care creates dependency, imprinting, and learned helplessness. Premature release results in starvation and death. Unnecessary prolonged care in unsuitable conditions causes ongoing suffering. High-quality rehabilitation minimises contact, uses appropriate facilities, and makes timely euthanasia decisions when survival prospects are poor.