Evidence on outcomes for injured raptors through wildlife rehabilitation and return to wild.
Raptor rehabilitation sits at the intersection of individual animal welfare and population conservation, requiring constant assessment of when intervention serves the animal's interests versus prolongs suffering. The decision to treat, hold for extended rehabilitation, use for education, or euthanize requires sophisticated assessment of both welfare and prognosis. Evidence on post-release survival is improving through satellite tracking programs that allow rehabilitation centers to evaluate their outcomes objectively. The welfare consideration of prolonged captivity for rehabilitation must always be weighed against the realistic prospect of successful release to a quality wild life.