title: Capture of farmed Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus): comparison of physiological parameters after manual capture and after capture with electrical stunning.
abstract: The electric stunner (e-stunner) is commonly used to handle Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) on commercial farms in South Africa, but while it seems to improve handling and safety for the keepers, no information regarding physiological reactions to e-stunning is currently available. The aim of this study was therefore to compare various physiological parameters in farmed C niloticus captured either manually (noosing) or by using an e-stunner. A total of 45 crocodiles were captured at a South African farm by either e-stunning or noosing, and blood samples were taken immediately as well as four hours after capture. Parameters monitored were serum corticosterone, lactate, glucose, as well as alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase. Lactate concentrations were significantly higher in noosed compared with e-stunned animals (P<0.001). No other blood parameter differed significantly between the two methods of capture. In addition, recorded capture time confirmed that noosing takes significantly longer time compared with e-stunning (P<0.001), overall indicating that e-stunning seems to be the better option for restraint of especially large numbers of crocodiles in a commercial setup because it is quicker, safer and did not cause a significant increase in any of the parameters measured.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfitzer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Endocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganswindt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fosgate
authors.affiliation: Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Scientific Services, Private Bag X606, Groblersdal 0470, South Africa Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Myburgh
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004597:Electroshock / Q000662:veterinary*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D003345:Corticosterone