Management of chemical immobilization of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park on 235 cases from 1990 to 2013.

• Main Authors: Leonardo Gentile, Vincenza Di Pirro, Roberta Latini, Elisa Tubiana, Cristina Fraquelli, DE BENEDICTIS, GIULIA MARIA
• Other Authors: Leonardo, Gentile, Vincenza Di, Pirro, Roberta, Latini, Elisa, Tubiana, Cristina, Fraquelli
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Ursus arctos
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11577/2842504

235 chemical immobilizations, 44 on captive and wild brown bears (Ursus arctos, n=5) and 171 on Marsican brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus, n=44) were recorded. Age and body weight (mean ± standard deviation) of captured animals was 9.81±6.28 years and 149.25±62.29 kg and 9.68±6.15 years and 147.54±60.71 kg in brown bear and Marsican brown bears respectively. The following anesthetic combinations were injected intramuscular by a remote equipment: medetomidine 0.05-0.09 mg/kg and ketamine 3-7 mg/kg (group MK: n=209); xylazine 7-13 mg/kg and ketamine 3-8 mg/kg (group XK: n=17); tiletamine-zolazepam 4-8 mg/kg (group TZ: n=9). In MK and XK groups, atipamezol was administered at the end of the procedure. Bears were darted after physical restraint (Aldrich snares or tube trap) or in free ranging situations. Complete anesthetic record, including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal body temperature (T) and saturimetry (SpO2), and biometric data form were filled in. The first physiologic parameters were recorded within 20 minutes from darting, as soon as adequate depth of anesthesia allowed safe handling of the animal, and were compared between groups with ANOVA test. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Anaesthesia induction time was similar between groups and ranged from 7 to 11minutes. HR was similar in groups MK and XK but higher in TZ group; HR was higher in wild than captive bears. RR was similar between groups. Recovery time was shorter in MK and XK than TZ group. Peri-operative complications were reported in 16/235 immobilizations and included vomiting and respiratory complications: 7,1%, 5% and 0% of complications were reported in group MK, XK and TZ respectively. All recoveries were uneventful. Knowledge of the target species biology, trained personnel, deep knowledge of advantages and disadvantages anesthetic drugs is mandatory during wildlife chemical immobilization.