Etorphine-Azaperone Immobilisation for Translocation of Free-Ranging Masai Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis Tippelskirchi): A Pilot Study

Vitali, Francesca; Kariuki, Edward; Mijele, Domnic; Kaitho, Titus; Faustini, M.; Preziosi, Richard F.; Gakuya, Francis; Ravasio, Giuliano

doi:10.3390/ani10020322

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The elephant's splenic capsule consists of connective tissue, therefore a contraction as stress response seems unlikely (44). The anesthetic drugs etorphine and azaperone or combinations thereof have been commonly used for the African elephant as well as other wildlife species (53)(54)(55)(56). Cardiopulmonary measurands, such as heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood gases and hemoglobin in arterial blood have been described for the African elephant anesthetized with these drugs (57).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reference Intervals for Hematology and Clinical Chemistry for the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

et al. 2021

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The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is listed as vulnerable, with wild populations threatened by habitat loss and poaching. Clinical pathology is used to detect and monitor disease and injury, however existing reference interval (RI) studies for this species have been performed with outdated analytical methods, small sample sizes or using only managed animals. The aim of this study was to generate hematology and clinical chemistry RIs, using samples from the free-ranging elephant population in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Hematology RIs were derived from EDTA whole blood samples automatically analyzed (n = 23); manual PCV measured from 48 samples; and differential cell count results (n = 51) were included. Clinical chemistry RIs were generated from the results of automated analyzers on stored serum samples (n = 50). Reference intervals were generated according to American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines with a strict exclusion of outliers. Hematology RIs were: PCV 34–49%, RBC 2.80–3.96 × 1012/L, HGB 116–163 g/L, MCV 112–134 fL, MCH 35.5–45.2 pg, MCHC 314–364 g/L, PLT 182–386 × 109/L, WBC 7.5–15.2 × 109/L, segmented heterophils 1.5–4.0 × 109/L, band heterophils 0.0–0.2 × 109/L, total monocytes 3.6–7.6 × 109/L (means for “regular” were 35.2%, bilobed 8.6%, round 3.9% of total leukocytes), lymphocytes 1.1–5.5 × 109/L, eosinophils 0.0–0.9 × 109/L, basophils 0.0–0.1 × 109/L. Clinical chemistry RIs were: albumin 41–55 g/L, ALP 30–122 U/L, AST 9–34 U/L, calcium 2.56–3.02 mmol/L, CK 85–322 U/L, GGT 7–16 U/L, globulin 30–59 g/L, magnesium 1.15–1.70 mmol/L, phosphorus 1.28–2.31 mmol/L, total protein 77–109 g/L, urea 1.2–4.6 mmol/L. Reference intervals were narrower than those reported in other studies. These RI will be helpful in the future management of injured or diseased elephants in national parks and zoological settings.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reference Intervals for Hematology and Clinical Chemistry for the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

et al. 2021

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“…Testes from 7 adult giraffes were extracted under general anesthesia. The anesthesia management and surgical technique were adjusted to the animal’s condition and veterinarian’s resources: different protocols were used, mainly based on either alpha 2 agonist (detomidine, medetomidine) combined with ketamine or butorphanol, or on highly potent opioids (etorphine, thiafentanil) [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The castration followed standard stallion surgery practice.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryopreservation of Giraffe Epidydimal Spermatozoa Using Different Extenders and Cryoprotectants

Hermes

Lécu²,

Potier³

et al. 2022

Animals

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Giraffe numbers have plummeted over the last 30 years by 30–40%. Thus, their conservation status has been raised from least concern to vulnerable. Efforts to manage in situ and ex situ populations are increasing. Assisted reproduction techniques (ART) such as sperm cryopreservation could help preserve the genetic diversity of giraffe subspecies and, when used for artificial inseminations, enhance genetic exchange between isolated populations. However, to date, the post-thaw motility of recovered sperm has been low and inconsistent. In this study, epididymal sperm collected from the testes of giraffes (n = 7) was frozen in three different extenders, namely, BotuCrio, Steridyl, and test egg yolk (TEY), each supplemented with one of two different cryoprotectants (5% glycerol or a mix of 1% glycerol and 4% methylformamide) and frozen over liquid nitrogen vapor. Across all three extenders, sperm showed significantly better post-thaw results when frozen with a mix of glycerol and methylformamide compared with glycerol alone. Sperm frozen with TEY and a mix of glycerol and methylformamide achieved superior post-thaw total and progressive sperm motility of 57 ± 3% and 45 ± 3%, respectively. These results show the benefit of using alternative cryoprotectants for freezing giraffe spermatozoa and could aid in the application of ARTs for giraffe subspecies or the closely related endangered Okapi.

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“…After immobilizing giraffes with etorphine and azaperone, once the individuals were recumbent, naltrexone was administered intravenously to antagonize the opioid-related side effects. Next, blindfolded and secured with ropes, animals were encouraged to stand up and guided into the chariot [42].…”

Section: The Use Of Veterinary Medicinal Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Releasing Three Orphaned White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) to the Game Reserve in South Africa. Rehabilitation, Translocation and Post-Release Observations

Miazga

Joubert²,

Sinclair³

et al. 2020

Animals

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White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is one of the most famous victims of poachers in Africa. One of the methods for dealing with decreasing rhino numbers is rehabilitating wounded and/or orphaned animals to successfully release them back into the wild. The status of rescued animal differs among individuals, but general procedures must be established and constantly improved. This study presents the history of successful release of three orphaned white rhino females; rehabilitated for 15 months in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in a private game reserve in South Africa. Female A was three years old, female B was one year old and the youngest female was three months old on arrival. The animals were rehabilitated together despite the differences in their age and size, with particular attention paid to keeping them as wild as possible. After being weaned and becoming old enough to go back to the wild, they were released at a distance from the rehabilitation centre, which required immobilization and translocation. Since the rhinos were released, they have been successfully living in the wild. All procedures used in this study proved to be sufficient for preparing the animals for life in the wild and can be recommended for other centres.

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Etorphine-Azaperone Immobilisation for Translocation of Free-Ranging Masai Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis Tippelskirchi): A Pilot Study

Cited by 9 publications

References 47 publications

Reference Intervals for Hematology and Clinical Chemistry for the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Reference Intervals for Hematology and Clinical Chemistry for the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Cryopreservation of Giraffe Epidydimal Spermatozoa Using Different Extenders and Cryoprotectants

Releasing Three Orphaned White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) to the Game Reserve in South Africa. Rehabilitation, Translocation and Post-Release Observations

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