La riabilitazione della fauna selvatica come pratica legale ed etica: uno studio comparativo tra Italia e Romania

Wildlife rehabilitation is the care of injured, sick or orphaned wild animals with the goal of returning them to their natural habitat. This practice has become a growing field that blends medicine, animal behavior, conservation science and animal ethics. Still, the practice remains controversial, with numerous debates, legal uncertainties and not enough long-term data to measure its effectiveness. This thesis analyses wildlife rehabilitation centers as both ethical and legal institutions by comparing the ones present in two EU states, Italy and Romania. On one hand, the review explores the moral duty to help wild animals harmed by human activity and the ethical questions about the welfare of rehabilitating animals, from triage to release or euthanasia. On the other hand, the regulations governing the rehabilitation centers will be analyzed, reporting laws and directives on wildlife rights and animal welfare and how they differ between Italy and Romania. The comparison shows that neither of the two have specific laws on wildlife rehabilitation. In Italy, the system is managed by each region, while, in Romania, it operates under a centralized authorization system. However, both countries face similar limitations: lack of funding forces centers to depend on volunteers and donations; the absence of legal guidance brings to a spartan management and a release without future control. Case studies from both countries show that the problem is not a lack of care, but the lack of a well-funded regulatory system that matches the important public role these centers already play. In conclusion, the review highlights the importance of adopting standardized regulations on skills, facilities, post-release controls, and stable public funding of rehabilitation centers.