Wild animals have evolved to suppress overt pain expression to avoid appearing vulnerable to predators, making the detection and treatment of pain in wild animals a significant welfare and veterinary challenge.
The pain expression suppression of wild animals presents a profound welfare challenge for both free-living and captive wild animals. Injured wildlife brought to rehabilitation centres may appear calm while experiencing severe pain, potentially leading to under-medication. Veterinary professionals working with wild animals require training in species-specific pain indicators including ear position, facial muscle tension, altered gait, and reduced response to handling. Pain management in rehabilitated wildlife is an area of growing veterinary focus, with better analgesic protocols being developed for commonly treated species.