Field Chemical Immobilization of Andean and Pampas cat in the High-altitude Andes

TELLAECHE C.; REPPUCCI J.I.; LUENGOS VIDAL E.M.; CLIFFORD D. ; LUCHERINI M.

WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN

THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Año: 2020 vol. 44 p. 214 - 220

0091-7648

Three protocols (Ketamine/Medetomidine, Ketamine/Xylazine and Ketamine/Medetomidine/Midazolam) were used to immobilize 2 sympatric wild catspecies, the critically endangered Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita), and therelatively more common Pampas cat (L. colocolo), in the high Andes Mountains ofArgentina. Based on 8 Andean cat capture events and 9 Pampas cat capture events,we determined that the ketamine/medetomidine combination safely induced 45 minutes of anesthesia at a dosage range of ketamine: 6-9 mg/kg, medetomidine: 0.05-7 0.08 mg/kg for field immobilization. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation remained within acceptable limits during all captures, but we had cases of hyperthermia in animals captured during the day. There was no evidence of a decline in the health condition of any animals recaptured 148-1,290 days post initial capture.