standardization of records keeping in indian zoos - Central Zoo ...

7.3 FREEZE BRANDING
Freeze branding has been used by Lewke and Stroud (1974) on sea turtles
Chelonia mydas and alligators Alligator mississippiensis and on the snakes Crotalus
viridis and Pituophis melanoleucus. For the snake branding the branding instruments
was made from a solid bar of copper, soldered to wire handles. Best results were
achieved with dry ice and 95% ethyl alcohol as coolant. The copper iron was placed
into the coolant until boiling from the surface stopped, whereupon it was held firmly
against the snake‟s skin for 25-30 seconds. It was found that by wetting the brand site
with ethyl alcohol, conduction was increased and the brand rendered more effective.
The area directly under the iron remained frozen for several seconds after its removal
from the skin; no evidence of pain was observed and all snakes continued to feed after
branding. Although dispigmentation was not evident until the first slough following
branding, the marks proved permanent and easy to read. They caused no disruption of
natural movement or shedding, nor any noticeable pain or stress.
7.4 TAGGING
For tagging rattlesnakes the procedure described by Pendlebury (1972) could
prove useful in zoos, as identification is possible, with binoculars, at a distance of
upto 30m. A series of paired color-coded identification discs are attached, with the aid
of a hypodermic needle, by a nylon fishing line to the second proximal segment of the
rattle. As only keratin part of the rattle is in use, the risk of infection is negligible, and
the discs do not interfere with ecdysis.
Affixing colored glass beads to the nuchal crest of lizards and iguanas by
means of a suture is one of the methods of marking for identification. This method
was developed by Rodda et al. for marking of iguanas but can be used conveniently
for lizards as well. Glass beads are preferred over plastic beads as they retain their
color better than plastic beads and are also superior in resistance to crushing. The
beads are fairly visible from a distance.
Suture material :
Suture material used in mammals and birds are used for similar procedures in
amphibians and reptiles. The size of the material used will depend upon the size of the
animal. For most small amphibians and reptiles the size will range from 4-0 to 8-0.
absorbable material such as polyglycolic acid and polydioxanone, are absorbed at a
slower rate compared to birds and mammals. If used for closing skin it may have to be
removed following healing of the incision site. Nylon is most commonly used for
closing skin. Gut suture material, specially chromic gut is to be avoided since it
induces a major inflammatory response in amphibians and reptiles (Jacobson et.al.,
1985; Bennett, 2000a)
7.5 PAINTING
Land tortoises may be marked by painting alphabets or numbers on their carapace.
The paint fades after about 5 months but as the tortoises can be handled easily it can
be conveniently repainted before the color completely fades.
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