Revisiting the 4 R’s: Improving post-release outcomes for rescued mammalian wildlife by fostering behavioral competence during rehabilitation

Abstract

Rescue, rehabilitation, and release (‘rescue-rehab-release’) of wildlife is an increasingly widespread practice across ecosystems, largely driven by habitat loss, wildlife exploitation and a changing climate. Despite this, its conservation value has not been realized, in part due to the scarcity of what has been termed “the 4th R”, research. Similar to conservation breeding and headstarting, rescue and rehabilitation entails close association of humans and the wildlife in their care over impressionable and extended periods. However, unlike these interventions, rescue and rehabilitation require an initial, and sometimes sustained, focus on crisis management and veterinary needs which can impede the development of natural behaviors and promote habituation to humans, both of which can compromise post-release survival and recruitment. In this perspective, we discuss the pathways toward, and implications of, behavioral incompetence and highlight opportunities for testable interventions to curtail negative outcomes post-release, without compromising the health or welfare of rescued individuals. We propose that practitioners ‘switch gears’ from triage to fostering behavioral competence as early in the rehabilitation process as is possible, and that research be implemented in order to develop an evidence-base for best practices that can be shared amongst practitioners. We focus on four mammalian species to illustrate specific contexts and considerations for fostering behavioral competence by building on research in the conservation translocation literature. Finally, we discuss a way forward that calls for greater cross-pollination among translocation scenarios involving extended time under human care during developmentally sensitive periods.

Rehabilitation and release of orphaned Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Europe: Implications for management and conservation

“…Rehabilitation provides wildlife authorities and rehabilitators an opportunity to resolve orphan issues in a positive light, and to educate and engage the public in wildlife management [ 49 ]. Social media facilitate the sharing of heart-warming stories and promote support for wildlife [ 50 ]. However, the success of orphan rehabilitation will often be dictated by the preliminary work done in developing a defensible plan and garnering support from the appropriate agencies, interest groups and the public [ 12 ].…”

Environmental Enrichment Devices Are Safe and Effective at Reducing Undesirable Behaviors in California Sea Lions and Northern Elephant Seals during Rehabilitation

“…Life in the wild exposes young pinnipeds to a variety of stimuli required to develop necessary survival skills, while rehabilitation settings tend to have fewer opportunities to learn these types of species-specific behaviors [ 12 , 13 ]. The introduction of EEDs can help avoid or diminish the effects of stress and contribute to maintaining a species’ natural behavioral repertoire [ 3 , 14 , 15 ]. Different biological considerations, such as disease, temperament and behavior, can influence reintroduction success and the development of important behavioral traits for an animal’s survival post-release, including moving in complex environments, foraging, interacting in social groups and avoiding conflicts with humans [ 16 ].…”

Assessing outcomes for an arboreal folivore after rehabilitation; implications for management.

“…By providing data to evaluate the success of rehabilitation practices, post-release monitoring should play a key role in examining and improving current rehabilitation practices 34 . However, the current literature has limited application in this regard, with most post-release monitoring studies focused on catastrophic events 35 , translocations [36][37][38] , or captive-reared orphaned animals [39][40][41] , and rarely include admission related to anthropogenic causes such as disease, dog attacks, and vehicle strikes.…”