Wildlife Darting Equipment
Whether or not a wild animal needs to be chemically immobilized is generally a function of accessibility to the animal, the potential risks to the animal and its handlers associated with handling it, and the degree of invasiveness of the procedures involved. Circumstances necessitating the need for the chemical immobilization of wild animals can include, but are not limited to:
- Relocation
- Conservation efforts
- Medical treatment
- Breeding programs
- Escaped containment in a zoo setting
- Scientific research
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.1
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.1
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.
Interested in learning more about safe capture? The San Diego Zoo now offers courses in safe capture techniques and best practices. Learn reliable, safe, and effective techniques for the species you work with and the scenarios you encounter!
1Arnemo, Jon & Kreeger, Terry. (2018). Handbook of Wildlife Chemical Immobilization 5th Ed. Sunquest Publishing, 2007, 432 pages.
About NexGen Pharmaceuticals
NexGen Pharmaceuticals is an industry-leading veterinary compounding pharmacy, offering sterile and non-sterile compounding services nationwide. Unlike other veterinary compounding pharmacies, NexGen focuses on drugs that are difficult to find or are no longer available due to manufacturer discontinuance or have yet to be offered commercially for veterinary applications, but which still serve a critical need for our customers. We also specialize in wildlife pharmaceuticals, including sedatives and their antagonists, offering many unique options to serve a wide array of zoo animal and wildlife immobilization and anesthesia requirements.
Our pharmacists are also encouraged to develop strong working relationships with our veterinarians in order to better care for veterinary patients. Such relationships foster an ever-increasing knowledge base upon which pharmacists and veterinarians can draw, making both significantly more effective in their professional roles.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this blog post is general in nature and is intended for use as an informational aid. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medications shown, nor is the information intended as medical advice or diagnosis for individual health problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of using a particular medication. You should consult your veterinarian about diagnosis and treatment of any health problems. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), nor has the FDA approved the medications to diagnose, cure or prevent disease. Medications compounded by NexGen Pharmaceuticals are prepared at the direction of a veterinarian. NexGen Pharmaceuticals compounded veterinary preparations are not intended for use in food and food-producing animals.
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