Grey and harbour seals are frequently rehabilitated at seal sanctuaries and released back to sea, with welfare implications during rehabilitation and post-release monitoring revealing outcomes.
Seal rehabilitation welfare requires managing the paradox of caring for wild animals through human contact while maintaining the wildness required for release success: seals that habituate too strongly to humans cannot effectively avoid boats or fishing gear after release. Welfare-positive rehabilitation maintains appropriate human distance, minimises interaction beyond feeding, and uses graduated feeding protocols that develop natural hunting preparedness. The welfare investment in rehabilitation is justified by post-release survival data showing that well-rehabilitated seals achieve natural lifespans.