wild

The court ruled that the poachers release the gorillas back into the wild/wilderness in an effort to raise awareness of conservation in addition to 5 year imprisonment.

1. Are there any mistakes?

2. Which is correct, wild or wilderness?
Thanks.

New2grammar

The court ruled that the poachers must release the gorillas back into the wild/wilderness in an effort to raise awareness of conservation in addition to 5 year imprisonment.

1. Are there any mistakes?

2. Which is correct, wild or wilderness?
Thanks.

I prefer 'wild'.  'Wilderness' is o.k., but it gives me a feeling of 'middle of nowhere'.

Hi N2G
The end of your sentence is ambiguous to me.  I'd suggest rewording it.

Did the court intend to raise awareness that there is generally a penalty of 5 years in prison for a certain crime, or did the court wish to raise awareness that it had imposed a sentence of 5 years in prison in this particular case, or do you just want to say that the court imposed a sentence and demanded a release, or (something else)?
.

Hi N2G

Basically, your sentence might be understood this way, for example:

The court did X. 
Question:  Why did the court do X?
Answer: The court did X in an effort to raise awareness of the following two things:
  1) conservation
  2) 5-year prison sentences


Others may disagree, but I find your sentence difficult to understand and open to misinterpretation.

How about this:

The court sentenced the poachers to five years in prison and, in an effort to raise awareness of conservation, ordered that the gorillas be released back into the wild.
.