Chemical immobilisation and satellite tagging of free‐living southern cassowaries

• Published in: Australian veterinary journal Vol. 92; no. 7; pp. 240 - 245
• Main Authors: Campbell, HA, Dwyer, RG, Sullivan, S, Mead, D, Lauridsen, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Australian Veterinary Association 01.07.2014; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: adults; anaesthesia; Anesthetics, Dissociative - administration & dosage; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - administration & dosage; cassowaries; cassowary; claws; Drug Combinations; Female; Geographic Information Systems; Immobilization - methods; Immobilization - veterinary; juveniles; Male; Queensland; ratites; restraint; Satellites; Struthioniformes; telemetry; Telemetry - methods; Telemetry - veterinary; Tiletamine - administration & dosage; tiletamine-zolazepam; Zolazepam - administration & dosage; Queensland; telemetry; cassowary; tiletamine-zolazepam; ratites; anaesthesia; restraint
• ISSN: 0005-0423; 1751-0813
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12193

BACKGROUND: The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) attains 1.8 m in height and over 80 kg in weight. These large birds are equipped with large claws and, although not a direct threat to humans, they have caused serious injury to handlers and members of the public. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study describes chemical immobilisation, restraint, transport and post‐monitoring (satellite tracking) methodologies for adult and juvenile southern cassowaries, captured and released from their natural environment. CONCLUSIONS: The described methods have improved the management and research opportunities for the southern cassowary and may be transferable to other species of large ratite.