Raptor rehabilitation centres care for injured and orphaned birds of prey with the goal of returning them to the wild, balancing welfare during care with maximising post-release survival.
Raptor rehabilitation welfare requires balancing the acute welfare needs of injured birds with the long-term goal of successful wild release. Handling and treatment cause acute stress in wild birds. Captive housing must meet the complex space and behavioural needs of birds capable of flying many kilometres. Prey species motivation in captive raptors can deteriorate if not maintained through appropriate flight and hunting opportunities. Decisions about when to euthanise rather than prolong suffering in non-releasable birds require careful welfare assessment. Centres must prevent excessive human imprinting that reduces post-release survival.