Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document 2014/111 National Capital Region Advice on Euthanasia Techniques for Small and Large Cetaceans Pierre-Yves Daoust1 and Arthur Ortenburger2 1 Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Department of Pathology & Microbiology Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Avenue Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3 2 Department of Health Management Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Avenue Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3 January 2015 Foreword This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Research documents are produced in the official language in which they are provided to the Secretariat. Published by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 200 Kent Street Ottawa ON K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/ [email protected] © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2015 ISSN 1919-5044 Correct citation for this publication: Daoust, P.-Y., Ortenburger, A. 2015. Advice on Euthanasia Techniques for Small and Large Cetaceans. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/111. v + 36 p. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ VI I. RÉSUMÉ........................................................................................................................... VII II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ...........................................................................................1 A. Need for guidelines ......................................................................................................... 1 i. Definitions and current concepts of animal euthanasia ............................................... 1 ii. Strandings, triage, entanglements, entrapments ........................................................ 2 iii. Current standards for whale euthanasia ..................................................................... 3 B. Harmonization of ethics, animal welfare, and public expectations ................................... 3 C. Context of guidelines: whale species in Canadian waters ............................................... 3 D. The decision process: when to euthanize, and the alternatives ...................................... 4 E. Clinical assessment of injured whales ............................................................................ 4 III. REVIEW OF SPECIFIC METHODS OF CETACEAN EUTHANASIA ...................................5 A. The effect of animal size ................................................................................................. 5 B. Physical methods (ballistics, explosives, exsanguination) ............................................... 5 i. Ballistics (rifle and bullets) .......................................................................................... 5 ii. Explosives .................................................................................................................. 7 iii. Exsanguination .......................................................................................................... 7 C. Chemical methods (drugs) .............................................................................................. 8 i. Overview .................................................................................................................... 8 ii. Drug dosing................................................................................................................ 8 iii. Injection sites ............................................................................................................. 9 iv. Pre-euthanasia sedation ...........................................................................................10 v. Euthanasia drugs and chemicals ...............................................................................11 D. Protected natural death with palliative care ....................................................................12 IV. CONFIRMATION OF DEATH .............................................................................................13 V. CARCASS DISPOSAL .......................................................................................................14 A. Influence of method of euthanasia .................................................................................14 B. Value of carcass ............................................................................................................14 VI. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHALE EUTHANASIA IN CANADA .................................... 15 A. General recommendations .............................................................................................15 B. Specific techniques – best practices in decreasing order of preference .........................16 i. Small whales .............................................................................................................16 ii. Large whales .............................................................................................................16 iii. Sperm whales ...........................................................................................................16 VII. SUGGESTIONS FOR RESEARCH ....................................................................................17 VIII. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................17 IX. REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................18 X. TABLES AND FIGURES ....................................................................................................21 iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Species of whales most likely to be encountered in Canadian waters, including the approximate body length, weight, and blubber thickness (dorso-laterally at level of maximum girth) of normal adult animals. The blubber thickness is provided to ensure appropriate intramuscular injection when needed. ................................................................................................................................... 21 Table 2. Physical methods of euthanasia currently recommended for different sizes of whales: rifle and shotgun ammunition, and explosives. ............................................................................................... 23 Table 3. Summary of chemical methods of sedation and euthanasia and injection sites. ......................... 25 Table 4. Some common species of whales, their blubber thickness (in normal adult animals), and sizes of needle required for injection into the epaxial muscle mass. ............................................................. 26 Table 5. Approximate costs of sedation and euthanasia. ........................................................................... 26 Table 6. Summary of recommendations for euthanasia of whales. ............................................................ 27 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1a. Dorsal point of aim for shooting small whales, based on anatomical landmarks. The shot is aimed at a site slightly caudal to the blow hole and a short distance lateral to the dorsal midline down and back (caudo-ventrally) toward the center of an imaginary line (A-B) drawn between the cranial edges of the flippers. ............................................................................................................. 28 Figure 1b. Radiograph of a harbour porpoise shot with .223 soft-point ammunition according to the anatomic landmarks shown in Figure 1a. There was extensive destruction of the calvarium and brain. Numerous bullet fragments (bright white particles) are visible in the caudal region of the skull, including the brain cavity. ........................................................................................................ 28 Figure 2. Lateral point of aim for shooting small whales, based on anatomical landmarks. The shot is aimed at the lateral side of the head, between one-third and halfway (red) along an imaginary horizontal line drawn between the eye and the cranial edge of the flipper. With this approach, the projectile is expected to hit the base of the brain or the brain stem near the occipital condyles. ..... 29 Figure 3. Diagram of the transverse section of the head of a small whale showing the dorso-lateral point of aim (large red arrow) for shooting. As in Figure 2, the shot is taken between one-third and halfway caudal to the eye along an imaginary horizontal line between the eye and the cranial edge of the flipper, but at a 30-45° angle laterally from the dorsal midline of the head and perpendicularly to the skin surface. The calvarium along the dorsal midline (A) and laterally (C) is much thicker than along the dorsolateral aspect (B). Bl, skin and blubber. Br, brain. Ma, mandible. Mu, muscle tissue. ................................................................................................................................................ 29 Figure 4. Point of aim for shooting an adult minke whale, based on anatomical landmarks. The thinnest part (X) of the calvarium in this species is approximately 5-10 cm on either side of the dorsal midline,