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Nájera F, Hearn AJ, Ross J, Ramírez Saldivar DA, Evans MN, Guerrero-Sánchez S, Nathan SKSS, DE Gaspar Simón I, Macdonald DW, Goossens B, Revuelta Rueda L. Chemical immobilization of free-ranging and captive Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi) with two anesthetic protocols: medetomidine-ketamine and tiletamine-zolazepam. J Vet Med Sci 2017; 79:1892-1898. [PMID: 28904261 PMCID: PMC5709571 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.17-0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is currently no available information regarding the veterinary management of Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi), either in captivity or in the wild. In this study, 12 Sunda clouded leopards were
anesthetized between January 2008 and February 2014 for medical exams, and/or GPS-collaring. Seven wild-caught individuals were kept in captivity and 5 free-ranging animals were captured by cage traps. Two anesthesia combinations
were used: medetomidine-ketamine (M-K) or tiletamine-zolazepam (T-Z). Atipamezole (0.2 mg/kg im) was used as an antagonist for medetomidine. Medetomidine (range: 0.039–0.054 mg/kg) and ketamine (range: 3–4.39 mg/kg) were
administered during 5 immobilizations, resulting in median induction times of 7 min. After a median anesthesia time of 56 min, atipamezole was injected, observing effects of antagonism at a median time of 12 min. T-Z (range:
6.8–10.8 mg/kg) was administered on 7 occasions. Median induction times observed with this combination were shorter than with M-K (4 min vs 7 min; P=0.04), and anesthesia and recovery times were significantly
longer (244 and 35 min vs 56 and 16 min, respectively; P=0.02). Lower heart rates were measured in the M-K group, while lower rectal temperatures were found in the T-Z group. Both combinations resulted in safe and
reliable immobilizations, although given the favorable anesthesia and recovery times of M-K, we recommend this approach over T-Z for the veterinary handling of Sunda clouded leopards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Nájera
- The Bornean Wild Cats Veterinary Project, Department of Animal Physiology, Veterinary College, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K.,Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Andrew J Hearn
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Joanna Ross
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Diana A Ramírez Saldivar
- Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.,Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Meaghan N Evans
- Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.,Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF10 3AX Cardiff, U.K
| | - Sergio Guerrero-Sánchez
- Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.,Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF10 3AX Cardiff, U.K
| | | | - Ignacio DE Gaspar Simón
- The Bornean Wild Cats Veterinary Project, Department of Animal Physiology, Veterinary College, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - David W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Benoit Goossens
- Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.,Sabah Wildlife Department, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.,Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF10 3AX Cardiff, U.K
| | - Luis Revuelta Rueda
- The Bornean Wild Cats Veterinary Project, Department of Animal Physiology, Veterinary College, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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