THE CONTRIBUTION OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION TO PEER-REVIEWED LITERATURE: A MAPPING REVIEW

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Wildlife Conservation
• Scientific Research

Background:

• Wildlife rehabilitation facilities generate valuable scientific data through various research methods.
• The extent and nature of research contributions from these facilities remain largely unquantified.
• Understanding this research landscape is crucial for advancing wildlife health and conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the amount and types of scientific research emerging from wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
• To identify trends in wildlife rehabilitation research between 2017 and 2022.
• To establish wildlife rehabilitation facilities as recognized partners in scientific research.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted for the period 2017-2022.
• Data from 526 articles were analyzed, including publishing journal, taxonomic groups, sponsorship, institutions, country of origin, and topic.
• Key trends in wildlife rehabilitation research were systematically evaluated.

Main Results:

• Journals focused on animals, zoos, wildlife, and veterinary medicine published the most articles.
• Mammals and birds, especially birds of prey, were the most studied taxonomic classes.
• Academic institutions and wildlife rehabilitation facilities were the primary sponsors, with global distribution of publications.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to identify wildlife rehabilitation facilities as significant research sponsors.
• The findings acknowledge the vital role of these facilities in scientific research and conservation.
• This work provides a foundation for future research collaborations and data utilization.