Volunteers working in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation face significant psychological and physical burdens, with burnout and compassion fatigue common challenges in the sector.
The welfare of wildlife rescuers is inseparable from the quality of care they can provide to animals. Burned-out or traumatised volunteers are less effective, more likely to make errors, and ultimately less likely to remain in conservation work. Supporting the psychological wellbeing of wildlife carers through peer networks, supervision, and formal mental health resources is both an ethical priority and a practical conservation strategy.