Euthanasia of whales: the effect of .375 and .485 calibre roundnosed, full metal-jacketed rifle bullets on the central nervous system of the common minke whale

Oen, E. O.; Knudsen, S. K.

doi:10.47536/jcrm.v9i1.695

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Such indirect CNS tissue damage occurs through the mechanism of temporary cavitation (Maiden 2009 ). Vascular injuries in these sensitive and vital parts of the brain have been documented to correlate significantly with mortality (Knudsen & Øen 2003 ; Øen & Knudsen 2007 ; Kazim et al 2011 ; Kneubuehl et al 2011 ; Ryeng & Larsen 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The significance of shooting angle in seal shooting

Ryeng,

Larsen

2024

Anim. welf.

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The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between shooting angle to the head and animal welfare outcomes in the hunt of young harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). The study population consisted of young harp seals belonging to the Greenland Sea harp seal population. A sample of 171, 2–7 weeks old, weaned harp seals of both sexes were included. The study was conducted as an open, randomised parallel group designed trial during the regular hunt. The animals were allocated into four groups, A–D, according to the observed shooting angle to the head, defined as the angle between the direction of the shot and the longitudinal axis of the animal’s head: (A) directly from the front; (B) obliquely from the front; (C) directly from the side; and (D) obliquely or directly from behind. Instantaneous death rate (IDR) and time to death (TTD) were the main variables. The mean IDR differed significantly between groups and was highest in group B (96.8%) and lowest in group C (66.7%). For all groups combined it was 84.2%. The mean TTD for seals not rendered instantaneously unconscious or dead (n = 27) differed significantly between groups and was shortest in group A (16 s) and longest in group C (85 s). However, the number of animals included in the TTD analysis was limited. In conclusion, based on the significantly higher IDR, the shooting angle obliquely from the front is recommended to help achieve the best animal welfare outcomes during the hunt of young harp seals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The significance of shooting angle in seal shooting

Ryeng,

Larsen

2024

Anim. welf.

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“…While these are recommended in the New Zealand SOP (Boren, 2012; Boys et al, 2022d), soft point projectiles are understood to have reduced penetration ability and lower killing efficiency (Hampton et al, 2014; Knox et al, 2018; Øen & Knudsen, 2007). Indeed, international recommendations suggest the use of only solid projectiles for cetaceans (Boys et al, 2021; Duignan & Anthony, 2000; Hampton et al, 2014; Øen & Knudsen, 2007). The implications of using soft projectiles at this event are unknown since postmortem examination of the cranium was not possible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing animal welfare during a stranding of pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata)

Boys

Beausoleil

Hunter

et al. 2023

Marine Mammal Science

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Empirical assessment of cetacean welfare to inform stranding interventions is lacking. Here, potential welfare indicators are described for two stranded pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), along with euthanasia procedures and pathology of potential relevance. The animals were filmed for 3.5 and 1.5 hr, respectively, allowing assessment of 19 indicators, including animal behaviors and human interventions. Eight interventions and 19 animal behaviors were identified; 17 and 11 behaviors were displayed by animal 1 and 2, respectively. Examination of ballistics euthanasia revealed atypical projectile placement and characterized animal behavioral responses, but welfare implications could not be assessed as insensibility was not verified in‐field. Pulmonary edema and renal degeneration were documented in both animals; differential etiologies include ischemia–reperfusion, shock, and/or myopathy. Potential relationships among histopathology and welfare indicators are explored to infer affective experiences. For example, simultaneous head‐lifting with respiration increased over time which, alongside pulmonary edema, suggests these animals experienced breathlessness. Other likely affective states include fatigue and discomfort; there are insufficient data to estimate the intensity or duration of these experiences or to provide an overall welfare grade/score. Further data are required to validate the proposed welfare indicators and to progress development of holistic approaches to welfare assessment at cetacean strandings.

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Improving animal welfare in wildlife shooting: The importance of projectile energy

et al. 2016

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In wildlife shooting programs, the energy profile of the projectile or bullet (i.e., kinetic energy transferred to the animal), as distinct from caliber (projectile diameter), is an important factor for animal welfare. We examined the role of projectile energy in determining animal welfare outcomes for a typical European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) sharpshooting program. We compared 2 projectiles of different energy profiles: low-energy 40-grain .22 long rifle rimfire (.22LR; 198 J) bullets and high-energy 40-grain .222 Remington 1 centerfire (.222R; 1,433 J) bullets, fired under similar conditions on 3 nights in September 2014, on a livestock grazing property near Broken Hill, New South Wales, southeastern Australia. We used a thermal-imaging camera to collect antemortem data from 500 rabbits that were shot at varying distance. We collected postmortem data via visual inspection from 482 rabbits that were killed. We used these data to compare 3 animal welfare parameters: wounding rate, duration of suffering, and ballistic injuries. We then used regression modeling to measure the effect of projectile type on these welfare parameters while accounting for shooting distance. All animal welfare parameters indicated that .222R projectiles were more humane than .22LR projectiles. When controlling for distance, for rabbits shot with a .22LR compared with a .222R, the odds of nonlethal wounding increased by a factor of 8 and noninstantaneous death increased by a factor of 9. All animal welfare parameters declined with increasing distance for both projectiles. Our results show that projectile energy and shooting distance were critical determinants of animal welfare outcomes in wildlife shooting programs. Ó

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Euthanasia of whales: the effect of .375 and .485 calibre roundnosed, full metal-jacketed rifle bullets on the central nervous system of the common minke whale

Cited by 5 publications

References 16 publications

The significance of shooting angle in seal shooting

The significance of shooting angle in seal shooting

Assessing animal welfare during a stranding of pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata)

Improving animal welfare in wildlife shooting: The importance of projectile energy

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