TECHNIQUES FOR DARTING OF WILD ANIMALS FOR RESCUE OPERATIONS IN INDIA

TECHNIQUES FOR DARTING OF WILD ANIMALS FOR RESCUE OPERATIONS IN INDIA

Wildlife rescue operations in India often require the use of dart guns to immobilize and safely capture wild animals that are injured, trapped, or pose a threat to themselves, humans, or other animals. These rescue missions aim to provide necessary medical treatment, ensure the animal’s safety, and, when possible, release it back into its natural habitat. This essay explores the process, techniques, and protocols involved in using dart guns for rescue operations in wild animals in India.

Darting and Capturing

Darting, or chemical immobilization, of wild animals is a critical tool used in wildlife management and conservation efforts across India. It allows experts to safely capture, relocate, and treat wild animals for various reasons, including research, population management, medical intervention, and rescue operations. However, the process of darting wild animals demands careful planning, precision, and adherence to ethical and legal guidelines. In this essay, we will explore the techniques and considerations involved in darting wild animals in India.

If there is a high probability that an animal will injure itself or its handlers during a procedure, it should be chemically immobilized. In many cases, this is carried out by remote delivery of a dart containing immobilizing drugs. Tranquilizing an animal through the use of these darts is a highly-specialized procedure that provides the most effective means to capture very mobile, unapproachable, large and/or dangerous animals. In most cases, captured animals must be sedated to allow safe handling and transportation and to reduce the detrimental effects of stress during capture and restraint, so the remote delivery of tranquilizing drugs is highly beneficial for the welfare of the animal.

Types of Darting Devices and Systems

Today, there many brands of commercially-available darting equipment on the market, DanInject®, Pneu-Dart®, TeleDart® and Cap-Chur™ being among the most popular of these. Types of dart delivery systems can be classified as falling into one of three groups based on the method used to project the dart.

Manual dart systems are limited to blowpipes and pole syringes. Blowpipes require considerable practice and user skill, but they are inexpensive and have an effective range of 10–15 meters.

Pressurized gas systems use carbon dioxide to deploy the dart. These are often used by capture teams and zoos, and have an effective working range of up to 75 meters. Operating pressure can be set low enough to project darts with minimum necessary impact to result in drug delivery over distances from just 3 meters but can be increased to achieve longer ranges. Pressurized systems are available as pistols or rifles that have interchangeable barrels allowing a variety of different dart sizes to be used.

Powder-charged systems are similar to pressurized systems except that they typically use a blank charge to propel the dart. Various charges are used for different distances. Powder-charged systems have the longest range, from 40–100 meters depending on the system. This type of system would be the most likely to be used in the field, approaching an animal on foot, or in a ground-based vehicle or helicopter.

 

 

 

Any procedure should have the well-being and safety of the people involved first and of the wild animals being captured second.  Under no circumstances procedures should be conducted that will knowingly put at risk any person or wild animals.

Individuals will be captured to:  1- remove exhausted radio-collars or fit new ones to localize a group, 2- fit radio-collars to pre-dispersing animals so that they can be followed once they disperse, or 3- fit bead collars to adults in all groups so that they can be recognized.

All capture procedures will be carried out during the daylight hours using a CO₂ powered rifle.

 

CAPTURING EQUIPMENT

On the evening before the capturing procedure is planned, check that the following equipment is ready for the following morning:

1- rifle and/or blowpipe, with spare CO₂ cartridge.

2- darts, ketamine (check expiration date) and syringes.

3- net or blanket for capturing the wild animals like monkey when following.

4- check that all equipment and supplies are ready for examining and sampling the animal.

 DARTS

The darts will be loaded with ½ cc or 1cc of ketamine.  It is necessary to check the container of the ketamine to confirm the concentration.  Until now we have been using brands that come as 50mg/ml when from Argentina or 100/mg when from Ecuador.  As an example, an animal will be injected with 25mg of ketamine if using a 0.5 cc dart filled with 50mg/ml ketamine.  The same dose will be used for Callicebus and Aotus.  It may be better to use a higher dose for Pithecia, in other words a 1cc dart that will provide the animal 50mg of ketamine if using the 50mg/ml ketamine.

Anesthetizing darts will be fired either from a CO₂ powered rifle or a blowgun using 1.5 to 2.5 bars of pressure, depending on the height of the animal in the canopy.

CAPTURE

Once the wild animals like monkey has been hit (when the darts explode you can see a yellowish light), record the time of the hit.  Immediately prepare the net or blanket since the animal may fall within a minute.  Record the time when the monkey has fallen asleep and the time when it falls from the tree.  This information is very valuable in developing the capturing procedures.  We know now that Aotus may fall very quickly, but we are still learning about the other species.

Ideally, immobilized animals will be caught in large capture net wielded by several field assistants as they fall from their trees.  In previous practice, sometimes we have not been able to deploy the capture net in time or have missed the falling animal, resulting in it falling to the ground.  In the event that an animal fails to fall all the way to the net or ground after being immobilized, a local assistant with tree-climbing experience climbs the tree to recover the animal.

Do not touch the animal with bare hands, always use gloves. Once the animal is recovered, one field assistant will remain with the rest of the social group if they move off, while the other assistant(s) will procede to begin the exam or will take the animal to camp.

POST-EXAMINATION RECOVERY, RELEASE AND THE DAY AFTER

Animals will be observed continuously during anesthesia recovery.  After sampling collection, weighting and sexing, and radiocollar placement has been completed, the animal will be placed recumbent in a ventilated recovery box or burlap sack until the anesthesia has worn off, as displayed by the animals ability to right itself and ambulate normally.   We will attempt to release the animal as close to its social group as possible, but if the group has moved off, we will bring the animal to the precise location of its capture and release it there.

1-     Place the monkey in a cage and cover the cage with a blanket.  Every 10 minutes check the monkey

2-     Make sure you know the location of the other members of the group, or try to locate the group

3-     Release the monkey once you have confirmed that it can stand on its four extremeties to be sure that there was no damage to any bone.

4-     Try to release it as close as possible to the group.

5-     Remain with the monkey UNINTERRUPTEDLY during the following 12 hours, rotating observers if necessary.  If this is not possible, check the monkey 3 or 4 times during the day.

The day after the capture, prepare a one-page report about it so that can be sent readily to authority.

The Importance of Darting Wild Animals

Darting wild animals serves various essential purposes:

1. Wildlife Research: Darting allows researchers to collect vital data about species, including behavior, health, and population dynamics.
2. Translocation: It facilitates the safe movement of animals from areas with human-wildlife conflicts to suitable habitats, reducing conflict and enhancing species survival.
3. Medical Intervention: Injured or sick animals can be darted for medical treatment, helping to improve their chances of recovery and survival.
4. Rescue Operations: Darting is employed in rescue operations, especially when animals are trapped, endangered, or pose a threat to themselves or others.

Techniques for Darting Wild Animals

The darting process requires specialized knowledge, equipment, and well-trained personnel to ensure the safety and welfare of both animals and humans involved. Key techniques include:

Selection of Drugs:

• Choosing the appropriate immobilizing drugs is a crucial step. Drugs are selected based on the species, size, and health of the animal. Commonly used drugs include etorphine, ketamine, and xylazine.

Darting Equipment:

• Specialized dart guns, known as “projectors,” are used to deliver the drug-loaded darts accurately. These guns allow for remote darting, ensuring the safety of the capture team.

Distance and Approach:

• Darting is typically done from a safe distance using tranquilizer darts. Approach techniques, such as stalking or using vehicles, are carefully planned to minimize stress on the animal.

Monitoring and Observation:

• Once the animal is darted, constant monitoring and observation are crucial. The capture team watches for signs of distress, ensuring the animal’s well-being.

Reversal Drugs:

• After the required procedures are completed, reversal drugs may be administered to counteract the effects of the immobilization drugs, allowing the animal to recover.

III. Ethical Considerations

Darting wild animals in India is subject to strict ethical guidelines, particularly when it involves endangered or vulnerable species. Some ethical considerations include:

1. Minimizing Stress: Every effort is made to minimize stress on the animal. This includes avoiding prolonged immobilization and ensuring appropriate post-recovery care.
2. Protection of Endangered Species: Special care is taken when darting endangered species to minimize the risk of injury, disease transmission, or other negative impacts.
3. Data Collection: Researchers adhere to strict protocols for data collection and monitoring of darted animals to ensure minimal interference with their natural behaviors.
4. Training and Certification: Only trained and certified personnel are allowed to dart wild animals in India. This certification ensures that individuals have the necessary skills to perform darting safely and ethically.
5. Legal Framework

Darting wild animals in India is regulated by various laws and guidelines, including:

1. Wildlife Protection Act (1972): This act governs the protection of wildlife and their habitats in India. It outlines the legal framework for darting, translocation, and capture of wild animals.
2. Central Zoo Authority (CZA): The CZA provides guidelines for the capture, transportation, and care of wild animals in captivity.
3. State Wildlife Laws: Individual states may have their wildlife laws and regulations governing the capture and management of wild animals.
4. IUCN Guidelines: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides global guidelines for the ethical treatment and management of wild animals, including those involved in darting.

Case Studies

To illustrate the techniques and considerations involved in darting wild animals in India, consider the following case studies:

Tiger Conservation:

• In the context of tiger conservation, darting is used for research and medical intervention. For example, darting is employed to conduct health assessments, treat injuries, and fit tigers with tracking collars for monitoring and conservation efforts.

Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation:

• Darting is used to capture and relocate elephants involved in human-elephant conflicts. For instance, elephants that have strayed into human settlements are darted and safely transported to less populated areas.

Rescue Operations:

• In cases of trapped or injured wildlife, darting is essential for safe rescue operations. For example, when a leopard falls into a well, it may be darted and rescued before being released back into the wild.

The Importance of Wildlife Rescue Operations

Wildlife rescue operations are essential for several reasons:

1. Injury and Disease Treatment: Injured or sick wild animals often require medical intervention, such as wound treatment, disease management, or surgery.
2. Preventing Human-Wildlife Conflict: In cases where wild animals enter human settlements, such as leopards falling into wells, rescue operations are crucial to prevent conflicts and ensure the safety of both humans and wildlife.
3. Mitigating Threats to Wildlife: Trapped or entangled animals are at risk of injury or death, making timely rescue efforts necessary to reduce harm and ensure their survival.

Dart Guns and Immobilization

Selection of Dart Gun:

• Dart guns come in various sizes and styles. The choice of dart gun depends on factors such as the size of the animal, the distance at which the animal can be approached, and the type of immobilization drug used.

Drug Selection:

• Dart guns are used to deliver immobilization drugs remotely. The selection of the drug depends on the species, size, and health of the animal, as well as the purpose of immobilization (rescue, research, or relocation).

Distance and Approach:

• Trained and experienced personnel approach the animal with caution to minimize stress. Dart guns enable remote darting, ensuring safety for the capture team and the animal.

III. Process and Protocols

Pre-Mission Planning:

• A rescue operation begins with a thorough assessment of the situation. The team determines the species, size, and condition of the animal and selects the appropriate immobilization drug.

Safety Measures:

• Ensuring the safety of the capture team and preventing unintended consequences are top priorities. Safety measures include evaluating escape routes, positioning the team strategically, and securing the area.

Darting Procedure:

• A trained marksman uses the dart gun to fire a tranquilizer dart into the animal. Dart placement is critical and should target large muscle masses, ensuring efficient drug absorption.

Monitoring:

• After darting, the team continuously monitors the animal’s behavior and response to the immobilization drug. This includes observing signs of distress, ensuring proper immobilization, and assessing breathing and heart rate.

Reversal Drugs:

• Once the animal is safely captured, reversal drugs may be administered to counteract the effects of the immobilization drug, allowing the animal to recover.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Welfare of the Animal:

• The welfare of the animal is paramount. The capture team ensures that the darted animal experiences minimal stress and suffering throughout the process.

Ethical Handling:

• Ethical guidelines prioritize the humane and responsible treatment of wild animals during darting and rescue operations.

Legal Framework:

• Wildlife rescue operations are governed by legal frameworks, including the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and state wildlife laws. These laws define the procedures, permissions, and responsibilities of rescue teams.

Case Studies

Leopard Rescue:

• In a case of a leopard falling into a well in a village, a rescue team was called to dart the animal. Following the protocol, the team safely immobilized the leopard, conducted a health assessment, and released it back into the wild after recovery.

Elephant Rescue:

• When an injured elephant was found in a remote forest area, a rescue team darted and immobilized the animal. The team provided medical treatment and subsequently relocated the elephant to a safer habitat to minimize human-elephant conflicts.

Conclusion

The use of dart guns for rescue operations in wild animals in India is a vital and specialized practice that aims to safeguard the welfare of wildlife, mitigate conflicts, and provide essential medical treatment. The process and protocols involved in darting wild animals prioritize the safety of both animals and rescue teams, adherence to ethical standards, and compliance with legal regulations. By following these guidelines, wildlife professionals and rescue teams work diligently to protect India’s diverse and precious wildlife.

Darting wild animals in India is a critical and specialized practice that plays a pivotal role in wildlife conservation, research, and management. The techniques and considerations involved in darting ensure the safety and welfare of both animals and humans while facilitating essential activities such as translocation, research, and medical intervention. The ethical and legal framework in place underscores the commitment to responsible and humane practices in the capture and management of India’s diverse and valuable wildlife.

Compiled  & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the

Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

 Image-Courtesy-Google

 Reference-On Request.

CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION OF WILD ANIMALS & ZOO ANIMALS IN INDIA