To catch a buffalo: field immobilisation of Asian swamp buffalo using etorphine and xylazine.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the efficacy of a mixture of etorphine and xylazine to safely immobilise wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the field.


METHODS
Body mass was estimated (to calculate mass-specific dosages) by deriving a predictive relationship between morphometric measurements (body length, height) and mass based on a dataset collected in Vietnam, because the study animals could not be weighed in the field.


RESULTS
Mass-specific dosages varied between 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg for etorphine and between 0.14 and 0.22 mg/kg for xyalazine; induction times varied between 10 and 33 min, mean recumbency time was 68 min, and the mean time to standing was 10 min (range: 10-17 min).


CONCLUSIONS
The mixture of ethorphine and xylazine was effective for immobilisation of this species and appeared to have a relatively large safety margin, based on the mass-specific dosages used. The allometric relationships described here should prove useful for those working with wild swamp buffalo.
McMahon
C R
CR
School for Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia. clive.mcmahon@cdu.edu.au
Bradshaw
C J A
CJ
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005048:Etorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D005048:Etorphine