Special Issue Survey of Cetaceans in Captive Care

378 Couquiaudrequiring an underwater view such as acoustic andbehavioural experiments. Cabling and storage forhydrophones, video cameras, a computer, a communicationsystem between the upper deck andtrainers’ room, Internet connections, and underwaterlighting also can be included in the design(for more details, see Chapter 5).Figure 8.7. Surgery roomFigure 8.8. Laboratory equipmentFigure 8.9. LaboratoryTransportationTransportation of animals from one facility toanother is a long and potentially stressful operationfor the animals. It involves precise logistics,high costs, extensive personnel, and usually severaltransportation methods such as cargo airplanes,trucks, and sometimes boats. Techniquesand equipment have been developed over the past30 years to cope with the unique physiology ofcetaceans, thus ensuring safe and successful transportation.They are reviewed in detail by Antrim& McBain (2001) and by the Alliance of MarineMammal Parks and Aquariums (Anonymous,2003) and will not be discussed here. Nevertheless,transportation of cetaceans is subject to regulationsin most countries and, therefore, both thenational and international regulations of the countriesinvolved must be followed.In a large facility, dolphins and whales sometimeshave to be moved between pools or formedical or husbandry purposes. Transportationcan be facilitated by the layout of the pool surroundings,and adequate equipment can be availablein or near the enclosure (e.g., a lifting poolbottom, a crane, a hoist, or a beaching area). Tofacilitate transportation, animals can be trainedto slide into a stretcher, which can then be liftedmanually by trainers or by a hoist or a crane, andthen transported by truck if necessary. Because itis a stressful operation for the animal, it shouldbe avoided unless deemed necessary for animalmanagement or veterinary purposes. Animals canbe desensitised through training, thereby reducingstress and potential harm to the animal and staff.Regulatory Offices and OrganismsCetacean movements are subject to the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species ofWild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is an agreementbetween governments (Corkeron, 2002). Itsaim is to ensure that international trade in specimensof wild fauna and plants does not threatentheir survival. Today, 167 countries are members.These species are listed in three different appendices,depending on their status. Appendix I lists speciesthreatened with extinction and for which tradeis permitted only in exceptional circumstances.