Rewilding projects that recreate wetlands and remove introduced predators are enabling the recovery of locally extinct amphibian populations. Understanding what makes rewilding work benefits both conservation and animal welfare.
Rewilding welfare considerations centre on the stress of translocation and the quality of receptor sites. Amphibians captured for translocation experience handling stress and are vulnerable to disease transfer between sites. Receptor sites that lack adequate food resources or shelter cause post-release welfare problems. Poorly planned pond creation in unsuitable locations wastes resources and fails animals. Success criteria should include welfare outcomes for released individuals, not just population establishment metrics.