Sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation programmes at aquariums and zoos give injured turtles a second chance while educating millions of visitors about ocean conservation.
Sea turtles in rehabilitation occupy a welfare-positive middle ground: they receive direct medical intervention and, for most, the goal is return to the wild. The welfare challenges during treatment include stress from handling, unfamiliar environments, and medical procedures. High-quality programmes minimise handling to essential interventions, provide species-appropriate tank conditions including flow and substrate, and monitor animals with health indices including weight and blood chemistry. Public exhibit design should balance education goals with minimising unnecessary stimulation for animals in active medical recovery — separating display from intensive care areas is best practice.