Transcript Whale Entanglement - Denver Museum of Nature and Science

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Whale entanglement has become an issue not only
to the animals but to the environment and fishing
industry.
Issues concerning the health and welfare of the
animal
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Difficulties associated with human intervention
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Methods and routes used to achieve euthanasia
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AVMA definition of euthanasia- the use of
humane techniques to induce the most rapid
and painless and distress free death possible.
Criteria for euthanasia:
The cetacean is stranded
Unable to swim
Judged to have a very low likelihood of
medium to long term survival.
Demeanor
Weak respirations
Failure to refloat after 2 high tides
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Excitement phase from some injectable drugs
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Time for death to occur
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Inexperienced personnel
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Cost
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Disposal of body
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Public view and relations
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Procedure being done improperly
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IC- intracardiac
IV- intravenous
IM- intramuscular
IP- within the abdomen
IN- intranasal
Sublingual- under the tongue
Intrahepatic- within the liver
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Implosion
Ballistics
Explosive grenade
Powergel Magnum Explosive
Dart gun
Exsanguination
Spinal lance
Pithing
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Specialized needle for delivering euthanasia
solutions.
Length = 1 meter ( 39 inches)
Outer diameter = 21 mm (13/16 inch)
Inner diameter = 12 mm ( less than ½ inch)
Tubing hooked up to a pressure sprayer
Needle is custom made for the procedure
and is costly
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$1000.00 for customized needle
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$500.00 for combination of three sedatives
◦ Generally a “cocktail”
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$500.00 for KCL- Potassium Chloride
Cost can increase or decrease with the size of
the animal or the number that have been
stranded.
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Sedatives: delivered prior to euthanasia
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Valium®/diazepam
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Versed®/ midazolam
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Atravet/ ® acepromazine
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Rompum®/ xylazine
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Telazol®/ tiletamine
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Ketalar ® /Ketamine®
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Sodium Pentobarbital
◦ Major issues involved with the use of this drug
◦ Difficult to dispose of the carcass after medication
has been delivered.
◦ Concentration of the medication
◦ Controlled substance- CII
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KCL- Potassium Chloride
◦ Action of this drug
◦ Dosage
◦ Environmental impact
◦ Route of administration
◦ It is strongly recommended the animal be sedated
prior to administration of the drug.
Powergel Magnum Explosive
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Euthanasia of beached humpback whales using explosives
◦ Douglas K. Coughran, Ian Stiles and Peter R. Mawson
Recommendations for Euthanasia of Stranded Cetaceans
◦ NOAA, Virginia Aquarium
Large Whale Euthanasia: Options, Approaches and Welfare
Considerations
Dr. Cheryl Rosa, DVM, PhD
IWC- International Whaling Committee
◦ Collaborative Development of Recommendations for
◦ Euthanasia for Stranded Cetaceans