Chemical immobilization of free-ranging and captive Sunda clouded leopards (<i>Neofelis diardi</i>) with two anesthetic protocols: medetomidine-ketamine and tiletamine-zolazepam

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.

Evaluating scenarios of landscape change for Sunda clouded leopard connectivity in a human dominated landscape

“…From 13 May 2013 to 28 September 2014, following a protocol developed by the Sabah Wildlife Department and approved by the Sabah Biodiversity Centre (Nájera et al, 2017), we deployed locally constructed, double ended, steel mesh box traps (1 x 1 x 3 m) in Lots 5 and 6 of the LKWS (Figure 1) to capture Sunda clouded leopards. We fitted captured animals with GPS/GSM collars (Lotek WildCell SD, Lotek Wireless Inc., Ontario, Canada), which included an automated drop-off device, scheduled to take a location fix every 20 minutes.…”

“…This felid is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a result of a presumed small and declining population size (Hearn et al 2015). On Borneo, this felid appears to be relatively resilient to forest disturbance (e.g., Wilting et al 2012;Hearn et al 2017), but intolerant of deforestation. Thus, the island-wide expansion of oil palm plantations is likely resulting in a decreasing extent and increasing fragmentation of Sunda clouded leopard habitat.…”

Isolation and preservation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow of Arabian leopard (<i>Panthera pradus nimr</i>)

“…medetomidine (0.049 mg/kg IM) and ketamine (3.8 mg/kg IM) injected 20 min later (Leclerc et al, 2017). medetomidine 0.04-0.05 mg/kg and ketamine 3-5 mg/kg (Najera et al, 2017). tiletamine-zozalepam 6.5-10 mg/kg (Najera et al, 2017).…”

“…medetomidine 0.04-0.05 mg/kg and ketamine 3-5 mg/kg (Najera et al, 2017). tiletamine-zozalepam 6.5-10 mg/kg (Najera et al, 2017). ketamine 5mg/kg with xylazine 1.5 mg/kg (Deka et al, 2012).…”

Measuring body dimensions of leopards (Panthera pardus) from camera trap photographs

“…Under these circumstances, target individuals are usually captured and chemically immobilized. However, this is intrusive, costly and can be potentially harmful to the animals or the handlers (Chinnadurai et al, 2016; Najera et al, 2017). Consequently, it is often difficult to obtain an adequate sample size of body measurements (Fukuda et al, 2013; Law, De Kort & Van Weerd, 2016; Turner et al, 2016; Rothe-Groleau, Rauter & Fawcett, 2018).…”