UK Wildlife

Wildlife Rehabilitation Welfare Standards

Wildlife rehabilitation centres care for injured and orphaned wild animals with the goal of release, requiring high welfare standards and evidence-based husbandry to maximise survival and welfare.

Key Facts

UK has hundreds of wildlife rehabilitation centres and licensed rehabilitators
Success rates vary considerably between species and injury types
Human imprinting is a major welfare and conservation risk in young animal rehabilitation
Wildlife rehabilitation is largely voluntary and charitable with limited statutory support
Release criteria and post-release monitoring are underdeveloped in many species

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife rehabilitation welfare requires species-specific knowledge, minimising human contact to preserve wildness, and honest assessment of when euthanasia is the most welfare-conscious outcome. Transparency about success rates and resource limitations is important for public trust.

What You Can Do

Support your local wildlife rehabilitation centre through donations and volunteering
Know who to contact for injured wildlife in your area before you need it
Handle injured wildlife minimally and get them to professionals quickly