CDU Animal Ethics Committee Injured Wildlife SOP

CDU ANIMAL ETHICS COMMITTEE

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE: CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR INJURED, ABANDONED OR ORPHANED WILDLIFE

The nature of field work and the use of traps require careful management and appropriate emergency procedures to reduce adverse impact on the wellbeing of animals. Capture and handling is stressful to animals and alternatives should be considered. All measures should be taken to minimise distress and injury to the captured animal. Researchers should be cognisant of, and incorporate, section 5 “Wildlife Studies” of the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (link on the CDU AEC website) in their practices.

In the event of an animal suffering an injury that is non-life threatening but serious enough to prohibit its immediate release, the following information has been set out as a general guide. Seriously injured animals should be taken to a veterinarian in the first instance rather than a wildlife carer. Less seriously injured, abandoned or orphaned wildlife should be transported to either a veterinarian or a permitted wildlife carer as soon as possible. Wildcare NT has a number of carers throughout the NT who can assist with injured, abandoned or orphaned wildlife. (Wildcare can be contacted on numbers 8988 6121, 0412 910 975 and 0408 885 341.)

Prior to lodging an application for AEC approval, researchers are required to obtain current contact details (including after hours contact details) of veterinarians that operate in the particular area where the research is being carried out.

The table below is to assist with emergency, short-term care only, prior to transporting an animal for treatment and/or rehabilitation.

ANIMAL ITEMS NOTES Unfurred mammal young. Artificial pouch Unfurred mammals cannot Low lactose milk formula ie thermoregulate, they require artificial Divetalac; Biolac M100. heat, keep at 28° (a plastic bottle filled Syringe and catheter or teat with warm water and wrapped in and bottle - to feed milk. material can provide warmth and maintain the animal’s temperature). Furred dependent mammal Artificial pouch Furred young can thermoregulate and young. Low lactose milk formula ie should not require artificial warmth – Divetalac; Biolac M100. depending on climate at the time. Syringe and catheter or teat and bottle - to feed milk. Adult mammal – slight Disinfectant gel ie Solosite. Gently clean the area with saline and injury ie skin loss on tail or Saline solution. cover with gel. Covering the animal’s face. face/eyes will quieten and help reduce stress.

Approved at Meeting - 1 - CDU Animal Ethics Committee Injured Wildlife SOP

Milk dependent microbat Microbat milk formula Unfurred pups needs artificial heat, keep young (pups). Syringe and catheter – for at 28° (a plastic bottle filled with warm feeding. water and wrapped in material can provide warmth and maintain the animal’s temperature). Pups should be lightly wrapped to imitate being held against mother’s body under wings. Milk dependent Flying-fox Full cream cows milk As for microbats. young (pups). Syringe and teatfor feeding. Adult mega or micro bat Solosite for membrane Microbats have a high metabolic rate abrasions or injuries. and may require to be fed (mealworms) Gloves for handling. if it takes longer than 36 hours (from capture) before being delivered to a vet or carer. Adult bird. Flat packed cardboard pet Cage of suitable size to allow bird to packs are now available from stand and turn round but not that much pet shops – these can be used that it can further injure itself thrashing to hold and transport the about, cover with a pillowcase or towel animal. Line the bottom of to reduce stress. the box with a towel or similar to provide a non-slip surface. Reptile Calico bag, gloves for Place animal in calico bag. handling.

Any lactating female (regardless if her young are trapped with her or not) should be released immediately and not processed. Females trapped with young should be transferred to an open calico bag and then left on the ground in a safe, shady area. It is best to plan your research during non-breeding seasons to avoid this situation.

Any unexpected problems should be reported to the AEC as soon as possible, including mortalities and injuries to animals. Future surveys may need to be modified in light of these problems.

The following items are suggested as part of a ‘contingency kit’:

Veterinary contact details Low lactose milk formula (Divetelac; Biolac M100) Wildcare contact details Microbat milk replacement formula Artificial (natural fibre material) pouch Full fat cows milk (Flying-fox pups) (macropods, bandicoots, possums) Appropriate holding/transport equipment Syringes, catheters, teats and bottles for ie calico bags, pet pack feeding Plastic water bottle (for artificial warmth) Towels, pillowcases or similar

Approved at Meeting - 2 - CDU Animal Ethics Committee Injured Wildlife SOP

Disinfectant gel ie Solosite Saline solution Virucidal antiseptic Soap Gloves for handling animals

NOTE: HANDLING BATS

Anyone handling bats should be vaccinated against the Australian Bat Lyssa Virus. Do not get bitten or scratched, if this happens wash the injury with soap and water for at least 5 minutes and seek medical attention ASAP; do not wait more than 24 hours. A virucidal antiseptic such as povidone-iodine, iodine tincture, aqueous iodine solution or alcohol (ethanol) should be applied after washing.

Researchers should also abide by the CDU AEC’s Standard Operating Procedure: Addressing Animal Welfare in Fauna Surveys; and Guidelines For Field Research On Vertebrates.

Approved at Meeting - 3 -