Taking the sting out of darting: Risks, restraint drugs and procedures for the chemical restraint of Southern Hemisphere otariids

Baylis, Alastair M. M.; Page, Brad; Staniland, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-9134; Arnould, John P. Y.; McKenzie, Jane. 2015 Taking the sting out of darting: Risks, restraint drugs and procedures for the chemical restraint of Southern Hemisphere otariids. Marine Mammal Science, 31 (1). 322-344. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12148

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12148

Abstract/Summary

The need to manage otariid populations has necessitated the development of a wide range of capture methods. Chemical restraint by remote drug delivery (i.e., darting) is a highly selective method that can be used to facilitate otariid capture in a range of scenarios, when other methods may be impracticable. However, the risks associated with darting otariids are not widely known and guidelines necessary to promote and refine best practice do not exist. We review the risks associated with darting and in light of our findings, develop darting guidelines to help practitioners assess and minimize risks during capture, anesthesia and recovery. Published studies reveal that mortalities associated with darting predominantly result from complications during anesthetic maintenance (e.g., prolonged respiratory depression, apnea, or hyperthermia), rather than from complications during capture or recovery. In addition to monitoring vital signs and proper intervention, the risk of irreversible complications during anesthesia can be reduced by administering drug doses that are sufficient to enable the capture and masking of animals, after which anesthetic depth can be regulated using gas anesthesia.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12148
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems
ISSN:	08240469
Additional Keywords:	pinniped, conservation, ecology, telemetry, tagging, sea lion, fur seal, anesthesia, tranquilizer, Telazol, Zoletil
Date made live:	29 Jul 2014 13:47 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/507957

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12148

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems

ISSN:

08240469

Additional Keywords:

pinniped, conservation, ecology, telemetry, tagging, sea lion, fur seal, anesthesia, tranquilizer, Telazol, Zoletil

Date made live:

29 Jul 2014 13:47 +0 (UTC)