Evidence-based rehabilitation standards for injured and sick sea turtles improve survival rates and welfare during recovery through optimized husbandry and release protocols.
Sea turtle rehabilitation requires specialized expertise because these ancient animals have physiological and behavioral needs that differ substantially from terrestrial wildlife. Cold-stunning events, which occur when turtles are trapped in rapidly cooling waters, create hypothermic debilitation that must be reversed carefully to avoid circulatory shock. Handling and medical procedures cause acute stress that must be balanced against therapeutic necessity. Welfare-centered rehabilitation tracks not just survival to release but post-release behavior and survival, providing evidence about whether rehabilitation achieves meaningful welfare outcomes for individual animals and populations.