Narcotics in hooded seals ( Cystophora cristata ): a preliminary report

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Haigh, J. C., Stewart, R. E. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1979
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Cystophora cristata
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z79-117; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z79-117

Immobilizing darts containing either of the narcotics fentanyl or etorphine were used on 15 adult hooded seals (Cystophora cristata Erxleben). Of these seals, 13 were successfully tagged. The narcotic antagonist naloxone was administered to all seals. No deaths were recorded and seals which were observed up to 2.5 h after darting behaved normally. Based on visual estimates of weight a satisfactory dose of fentanyl for female hooded seals varied from 0.3 to 0.6 mg/kg.