Head-start programs raise sea turtle hatchlings in captivity to increase survival rates before release, but welfare considerations during captive rearing must be carefully managed.
Sea turtle head-start programs create welfare benefits by dramatically improving juvenile survival, but captive rearing carries its own welfare risks including disease and behavioral deficits. Welfare-conscious head-start programs focus on maintaining natural behaviors, minimizing disease exposure, and releasing animals at sizes and developmental stages that maximize post-release survival.