Special Issue Survey of Cetaceans in Captive Care

Recommendations

Info

372 Couquiaudthe hygiene of humans and the life support systemparameters. The veterinarian and/or curator servesas the liaison with the Convention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (CITES) and various other regulatory offices(see “Regulatory Offices and Organisms” section).The clinical examination of a cetacean includes itshistory, the examination of the animal, and its environment.To understand what is considered normal,it is essential to know the life, social history, andclinical records of an animal. Visual examination andbehavioural observation, both from the surface andunder water, also are important to understand how theanimal feels. An animal’s behavioral changes with itsconspecifics or trainers can reveal that it is not feelingwell (McBain, 2001). Lack of appetite, abnormalswimming or buoyancy, reduced activity, increasedrespiratory rate, unusual breath odour, among others,are symptoms signalling the possible onset of disease.Problems related to stressful social interactions canbe exhibited by behavioural and physiological symptomsas well such as spontaneous vomiting, foreignbody consumption, self-inflicted trauma, rake marks,excessive tooth wear, aggressiveness, excessivesexual behaviour, submission, nervousness, failureto perform trained tasks, and destructive behaviour(Sweeney, 1990; Stoskopf & Gibbons, 1994; survey).After reviewing the animal’s history and performinga visual, hands-on examination, a routinemedical examination is given, which usuallyincludes documenting physical parameters suchas weight, size, mouth inspection, blood, animalexudates, and fluids for cytology examination.Fluids from the blowhole, stomach, and intestinaltract, as well as urine and faeces, provide valuablemeasures of health conditions (Sweeney, 1990;Sweeney & Reddy, 2001). Ultrasonography and,to a lesser degree, radiography are additional diagnosticaids (McBain, 2001). For details on trainingprocedures and result interpretations, please referto McBain (2001) and Sweeney & Reddy (2001).When a disease from a bacterial, viral, fungal,or parasitic origin is diagnosed, the veterinarian isresponsible for determining the adequate therapyand the methods of medication administration. Heor she might be assisted by dedicated trainers inthe case of prolonged treatment, restraint, and anytreatment requiring behavioural training. Accessto sick animals can be greatly facilitated by appropriatemedical facilities such as an elevating platformor pool bottom, a sliding scale, or a shallowmedical pool (see Chapter 5 for details).Medical TrainingAnimals trained to accept routine veterinaryexaminations and sample collections without coercionwill be less stressed and more easily monitored.Until recently, examination and collectionprocedures required that the animal be physicallyrestrained. Such procedures can have a negativeeffect on the behaviour of the animal and can causethe alteration of samples due to stress (Sweeney& Reddy, 2001). Additionally, there are risksof trauma and injury to the animals and trainersduring handling. Conditioning techniques requiringonly a few weeks to a few months of trainingallow medical procedures to be performed reliablywithout restraint. Regular repetition maintainsthese behaviours and allows for routine healthmonitoring (Abel, 1986; Sweeney, 1990; Sweeney& Reddy, 2001). Gating and mattress or stretchertraining, although not really considered medicaltraining, are equally important in animal husbandry.Nevertheless, this is mainly true for monitoring,sample collections, some endoscopic examinations,bandaging, and small surgical procedures (Lacaveet al., 2003; survey). Unfortunately, when an animalis very sick, it is often reluctant to perform medicalbehaviours, which makes it necessary to catch andrestrain the animal for treatment. Still, medical husbandrytraining is highly advisable as a routine andstandard part of every training program. Both animalsand keepers benefit from trained proceduresbecause they greatly reduce stress, handling time,and costs, allowing an earlier diagnosis of medicalconditions and, therefore, reducing the chances ofsevere illnesses and potential loss of an animal.Institutions are encouraged to formalise theirbehavioural training and management plan in writing,detailing the objectives and goals, the methods,and the evaluation criteria. Professional organisations,such as the European Association for AquaticMammals (EAAM) (Anonymous, 2005e), theInternational Marine Animal Trainers Association(IMATA) (Anonymous, 2005i), and the Alliance ofMarine Mammals Park and Aquariums (AMMPA)(Anonymous, 2005a), can assist by proposing criteriafor the evaluations and training programs. Trainingis a very useful tool to enhance research, education,and environmental and behavioural enrichment.Sample CollectionsTable 8.1 presents a list of the physiological andbehavioural examinations and sample collectionsthat are performed in the surveyed institutions andrecommended to be part of a routine medical managementplan (Sweeney, 1986, 1993; Dunn, 1990;survey); however, the selection of parameters andtheir frequency remains the choice of the treatingveterinarian. The role of the veterinarian also isto decide what shall be recorded and collected bytrainers or by the veterinarian him- or herself.RecordsA detailed and easily accessible database of allrecords for each animal should be kept as part of
8. Husbandry 373Figure 8.3. Milk sampleFigure 8.1. Blood sampleFigure 8.4. Stomach sampleFigure 8.2. Blowhole sputum samplethe preventive healthcare programme. Storage offrozen blood and serum for all individuals maybe necessary for future analysis. Regular collectionof samples allows for the establishment of astrong database. The processing and analysis willbe done using consistent techniques and by thesame laboratories.Comprehensive records help to document theanimal’s history and should be available to theveterinarian. Records are kept on an individualbasis, preferably in database applications that areeasy to examine and compare with other establishments’records or for scientific purposes. It isFigure 8.5. Stretcher trainingpreferable to keep back-up copies that are storedsafely (Anonymous, 2003). An animal moving tonew locations will be accompanied by copies ofits records. Records for each individual containthe following information:• The species name• Date of birth• Animal identification, specific markings, andphotographic identification• Origin in captivity or in the wild; parents ifknown
Page 3 and 4:
Aquatic Mammals 2005, 31(3), 279-28
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
1. Introduction 285of Architecture,
Page 11 and 12:
on the physiology, behavior, and he
Page 13 and 14:
2. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
3. Survey of International Cetacean
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46: 4. Types and Functions of Pools and
Page 47 and 48: 4. Types and Functions of Pools and
Page 49 and 50: welfare: Marine mammals (9 CFR Part
Page 51 and 52: 5. Architectural Design of Pools an
Page 75 and 76: Aquatic Mammals 2005, 31(3), 351-36
Page 77 and 78: 6. Life Support Systems 353sometime
Page 79 and 80: 6. Life Support Systems 355al., 199
Page 81 and 82: 6. Life Support Systems 357from coa
Page 83 and 84: 6. Life Support Systems 359antimicr
Page 85 and 86: 6. Life Support Systems 361contact
Page 87 and 88: 6. Life Support Systems 363Dierauf,
Page 89 and 90: 7. Food and Fish House 365in its se
Page 91 and 92: 7. Food and Fish House 367establish
Page 93 and 94: 7. Food and Fish House 369Figure 7.
Page 95: Aquatic Mammals 2005, 31(3), 371-38
Page 99 and 100: 8. Husbandry 375reintroducing a new
Page 101 and 102: 8. Husbandry 377Rescue and Rehabili
Page 103 and 104: 8. Husbandry 379Appendix II include
Page 105 and 106: 8. Husbandry 381& R. J. Harrison (E
Page 107 and 108: Appendix 383Dolphinarium YaltaDolph
Page 109: Appendix 385Aomori Prefectural Asam
Page 113: Subscription Rates forAquatic Mamma
show all

Special Issue Survey of Cetaceans in Captive Care

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?