Chemical restraint of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) ...

• Main Author: Woods, Rupert
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Elephant Seals; Mirounga leonina; Southern Elephant Seals
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23241485.v1; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Chemical_restraint_of_southern_elephant_seals_Mirounga_leonina_/23241485/1

This study examined the use of anaesthetic agents in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). The aim was to improve their safety especially when used for the routine chemical restraint required for biological investigations. This was to be achieved by more accurately refining drug dose rates, determining appropriate drugs to use and developing techniques for the early recognition and treatment of complications. Monitoring to detect complications early A system of monitoring was developed from reflexes and responses used to measure the depth of anaesthesia in terrestrial animals. Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, head response, palpebral response, withdrawal response, caudal flipper response, muscle top.e, righting response, and capillary refill were used as indicators of anaesthetic depth and the status of the animal's respiratory, cardiovascular, and thermoregulatory systems. It was more difficult to elicit responses when pethidine based drug combinations were used, or with large seals ...