Injured raptors in rehabilitation and non-releasable resident birds at wildlife centres require management that meets their welfare needs while supporting the conservation and education missions of these facilities.
Non-releasable raptors — those with permanent injuries preventing wild survival — are commonly used as education ambassadors. Ambassador bird welfare requires regular flight opportunity, positive reinforcement husbandry training, and management that minimises aversive stimuli. Wild-caught rehabilitation birds require minimal human contact to maintain releasability; management must prevent human imprinting. Food-based training for resident education birds provides cognitive engagement and voluntary cooperation with handling. Enclosure design for resident raptors should allow flight rather than restricting birds to perch-only environments.