Sea turtle rehabilitation programmes treat injured and sick turtles before release, requiring careful welfare management during rehabilitation and assessment of release fitness.
Sea turtle rehabilitation welfare involves the dual challenge of treating injuries while managing the stress of captivity in a species that in health never experiences confinement. Rehabilitation tanks must provide sufficient water depth for normal diving behaviour, appropriate temperature, and opportunities for feeding behaviour. Post-release monitoring data shows that well-rehabilitated turtles have survival rates comparable to wild individuals, validating the welfare investment in rehabilitation. The welfare goal — returning animals to full function in their natural habitat — requires both treatment expertise and attention to minimising captivity stress.