Sea turtle rehabilitation centers treat thousands of animals annually from boat strikes, entanglement, and cold stunning, with welfare standards and outcomes varying significantly between facilities.
Sea turtles admitted to rehabilitation centers are often in critical condition from boat strike trauma, entanglement injuries, or cold stunning. Welfare during treatment depends on water temperature management, appropriate diet, minimization of handling stress, and adequate pain management for injury treatment. The long treatment periods required for recovery from severe injuries mean welfare during rehabilitation significantly impacts the animals total welfare experience. High-quality facilities with trained staff produce dramatically better outcomes than ad hoc centers treating animals beyond their capacity.