Wildlife rehabilitation
Wildlife rehabilitation is the care of injured, orphaned, or displaced wild animals with the aim of releasing them back into the wild.
Wildlife rescue: The capture and transport of wild animals in immediate danger or need of care. Rescue brings animals into rehabilitation after injury, displacement, or other emergencies.
Animal welfare: The physical and mental state of an animal in relation to how it lives and is treated. Care decisions must reduce suffering while avoiding unnecessary stress.
Wildlife collision: An impact between a wild animal and a vehicle, building, or other human-made structure. Collisions commonly create injuries that prompt rehabilitation.
Wildlife sanctuary: A facility that provides long-term care for wild animals that cannot live independently. Sanctuaries retain animals when rehabilitation cannot lead to safe release.
Wildlife veterinary medicine: Veterinary care focused on the diagnosis and treatment of wild animals. Veterinary assessment identifies injuries and illnesses that rehabilitation must address.
Wildlife disease: Illnesses that affect wild animal populations, including infectious and noninfectious conditions. Disease assessment protects both the patient and animals or people it may contact.
Oil spill: The release of petroleum into the environment, often contaminating water and wildlife. Oil exposure can require specialized cleaning and recovery before release.
Zoo: An institution that keeps and displays animals, often for conservation, education, research, or recreation. A zoo may house wildlife permanently rather than prepare individuals for release.
Wildlife orphan care: The temporary raising of young wild animals that have lost parental care. Orphaned young need species-appropriate feeding and development before release.
Zoonosis: An infectious disease that can pass between animals and humans. Handling wildlife can expose caregivers to pathogens that cross species boundaries.