Wildlife rehabilitation aims to return injured or orphaned animals to the wild. Standards for care quality, housing, and release readiness directly affect both welfare during rehabilitation and survival after release.
Wildlife rehabilitation is a welfare intervention at the individual level but must be evaluated in the context of outcomes. Rehabilitation that causes prolonged stress, creates human dependence, or results in release into unsuitable habitat may not serve animal wellbeing — despite good intentions. The best rehabilitation programs minimize unnecessary contact, maintain natural fear of humans, provide species-appropriate diets and social contact where possible, and use evidence-based release protocols. Measuring welfare outcomes during rehabilitation — not just survival post-release — is an important and underused standard.