Wildlife tracking with GPS collars, ear tags, and implants provides critical conservation data but involves welfare costs during capture and throughout the device deployment period.
Wildlife tracking provides invaluable conservation data but involves welfare costs that researchers have an ethical obligation to minimize. Capture-related stress and mortality risk must be justified by the value of data collected. Device design must minimize physical burden and prevent wounds. Protocols should include device removal when research objectives are met. Welfare review of research proposals is increasingly standard in wildlife research ethics frameworks.