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Laparoscopic ovariectomy in eastern grey kangaroos ( Macropus giganteus ) and red kangaroos ( Macropus rufus )
Author(s) -
Colgan SA,
Green LA
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/avj.12675
Subject(s) - macropus , medetomidine , isoflurane , medicine , pouch , biology , acepromazine , surgery , marsupial , anesthesia , zoology , heart rate , blood pressure
Objective To develop a technique for permanent sterilisation of female eastern grey kangaroos ( Macropus giganteus ) and red kangaroos ( M. rufus ) as part of a large‐scale macropod management program on an enclosed 1545‐ha site in western Sydney. Methods Free‐ranging female kangaroos (n = 1409: 1285 eastern grey kangaroos, 124 red kangaroos) were anaesthetised via remote anaesthetic drug delivery of tiletamine/zolazepam, medetomidine and acepromazine prior to inhalational anaesthesia using isoflurane–oxygen. A laparoscopic ovariectomy technique was developed using standard laparoscopic equipment to effect permanent sterilisation of the kangaroos. The technique described was also adapted for use on immature animals weighing as little as 1 kg. No direct post‐surgical care was provided once the animals had recovered from the anaesthetic. Results The procedure was simple to perform and had a very high success rate, with an overall project mortality rate of 2.13% (n = 30). Seven kangaroos (0.05% of all operated kangaroos) were euthanased as a direct result of the surgical procedure. Surgical complications were rare but included inadvertent gastrointestinal tract puncture with the trocar, intraoperative haemorrhage and subcutaneous emphysema leading to pouch eversion following surgery. Conclusion The procedure described is a rapid and effective method of permanent fertility control in macropods and carries a low mortality rate.