Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T09:30:33.075Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An analysis of the approaches taken around the world to whale euthanasia

Part of: AWF Wild Animal Welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

H Stringfellow ,
A Butterworth  and
MP Simmonds
H Stringfellow*
Affiliation:
Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
A Butterworth
Affiliation:
OP Veterinary Products and Services, 14 Stonewell Lane, Congresbury, Somerset BS49 5DL, UK
MP Simmonds
Affiliation:
Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK Humane Society International, c/o 5 Underwood Street, London N1 7LY, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The stranding of cetaceans raises significant welfare and associated logistical issues. A survey of opinions on euthanasia methods based on the recommendations of an International Whaling Commission (IWC) workshop was conducted. Descriptive statistics showed that the workshop recommendations were generally supported and understood, and these included the use of specific euthanasia techniques, but important barriers to adherence were identified, including lack of governmental support, lack of resources, and lack of experienced or trained personnel. Conjoint analysis of factors identified that ‘time to death’ was considered the most important determinant of welfare outcome. In view of the findings of this study, it is recommended that the IWC should consider creating a training programme for responders (both veterinary and non-veterinary) to ensure that trained personnel are available who can implement timely and tailored euthanasia techniques, if required, when strandings occur. Further research on this topic is also advocated to ensure a better understanding of what is being applied in different nations.

Keywords

animal welfarecetaceaeuthanasiaIWCstrandingwhale
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 113 - 123
Copyright
© 2022 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 2013 Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. AVMA: Schaumburg, IL, USAGoogle Scholar
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 2020 Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. AVMA: Schaumburg, IL, USAGoogle Scholar
Barco, SG, Walton, WJ, Harms, CA, George, RH, D’Eri, LR and Swingle, WM 2016 Collaborative development of recommendations for euthanasia of stranded cetaceans. US Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum: USGoogle Scholar
Barnett, J, Knight, A and Stevens, M 2017 British Divers Marine Life Rescue Marine Mammal Medic Handbook, Seventh Edition. BDMLR: UKGoogle Scholar
Butterworth, A, Sadler, L, Knowles, TG and Kestin, SC 2004 Evaluating possible indicators of insensibility and death in cetacea. Animal Welfare 13: 13–17Google Scholar
Close, B, Banister, K, Baumans, V, Bernoth, EM, Bromage, N, Bunyan, J, Erhardt, W, Flecknell, P, Gregory, N, Hackbarth, H, Morton, D and Warwick, C 1996 Recommendations for euthana-sia of experimental animals: Part 1. Laboratory Animals 30: 293–316. https://doi.org/10.1258/002367796780739871Google ScholarPubMed
Close, B, Banister, K, Baumans, V, Bernoth, EM, Bromage, N, Bunyan, J, Erhardt, W, Flecknell, P, Gregory, N, Hackbarth, H, Morton, D and Warwick, C 1997 Recommendations for euthanasia of experimental animals: Part 2. Laboratory Animals 31: 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1258/002367797780600297CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooney, KA, Chappell, JR, Callan, RJ and Connally, BA 2012 Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques: A Practical Guide. Wiley-Blackwell: New Jersey, USA. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118704585Google Scholar
Coughran, DK, Stiles, I and Mawson, PR 2012 Euthanasia of beached humpback whales using explosives. Journal of Cetacean Research Management 12: 137–144Google Scholar
Daoust, P and Ortenburger, A 2001 Successful euthanasia of a juvenile fin whale. Canadian Veterinary Journal 42: 127–129Google ScholarPubMed
Dunn, JL 2006 Multiple agent euthanasia of a juvenile fin whale (Balanoptera physalus). Marine Mammal Science 22: 1004–1007. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2006.00073.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenwood, AG and Taylor, DC 1980 Humane handling of stranded cetaceans. Veterinary Record 106: 345. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.106.15.345CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greer, LL and Rowles, TK 2000 Humane euthanasia of stranded marine mammals. The International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine. http://www.vin.com/doc/?id=3982007Google Scholar
Guru99 2019 What is Orthogonal Array Testing (OATS)? Tools, Techniques & Example. https://www.guru99.com/orthogonal-array-testing.htmlGoogle Scholar
Hair, JF, Black, WC, Babin, BJ and Anderson, RE 2014 Multivariate Data Analysis, Second Edition pp 342. Pearson: Harlow, UKGoogle Scholar
Hampton, JO, Mawson, PR, Coughran, DK and Vitali, SD 2014 Validation of the use of firearms for euthanizing stranded cetaceans. Journal of Cetacean Research Management 14: 117–123Google Scholar
Harms, CA 2020 WhaleScale App Version 3.0.3 [Mobile App]. https://www.apple.com/uk/app-store/Google Scholar
Harms, CA, Greer, LL, Whaley, J and Rowles, TK 2018 Euthanasia. In: Guilland, FMD and Dierauf, LA (eds) Marine Mammal Medicine, Third Edition pp 675–691. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USAGoogle Scholar
Harms, CA, McLellan, WA, Moore, MJ, Barco, SG, Clarke, EO, Thayer, VG and Rowles, TK 2014 Low-residue euthanasia of stranded mysticetes. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 50: 63–73. https://doi.org/10.7589/2013-03-074CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunter, SA, Ogle, RM and Kirk, EJ 2017 The mass stranding event of long-finned pilot whales (Globocephalus melas) at Golden Bay in February 2017. Kokako 24: 27–36Google Scholar
International Whaling Commission 2014 Report of the IWC Workshop on Euthanasia Protocols to Optimise Welfare for Stranded Cetaceans. Submitted by Norway and UK. https://www.ascobans.org/sites/default/files/document/AC22_Inf_5.3.b_IWC_WS_Euthanasia.pdfGoogle Scholar
International Whaling Commission 2016 Update from the United Kingdom on follow up to IWC Workshop: Euthanasia Protocols to Optimise Welfare Concerns for Stranded Cetacean s. IWC/66/WKM&W104. https://archive.iwc.int/pages/search.phpGoogle Scholar
International Whaling Commission 2020a Membership and Contracting Governments. https://iwc.int/membersGoogle Scholar
International Whaling Commission 2020b Principles and guide-lines for large whale entanglement response efforts. https://iwc.int/best-practice-guidelines-for-entanglement-respondeGoogle Scholar
Jisc 2019 Online surveys (formerly BOS). https://www.onlinesur-veys.ac.uk/Google Scholar
Kolesnikovas, CKM, Groch, KR, Groch, KR, Nunes de Moraes, A, Flores, PAC, Pretto, DJ, Freitas, RR, Gaidzinski, MC, Moreira LM de, P and da Rocha, MEC 2012 Euthanasia of an adult southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in Brazil. Aquatic Mammals 38: 317–321. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.38.3.2012.317CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marsh, N and Bamber, C 1999 Development of a specialised round and firearm for the humane euthanasia of stranded sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus) in New Zealand; IWC/51/WK5. 51st meeting of the International Whaling Commission, St George's, GrenadaGoogle Scholar
Meredith, A 2016 Wildlife triage and decision-making. In: Mullineaux, E and Keeble, E (eds) BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, Second Edition pp 27–36. BSAVA: Gloucester, UK. https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443316.4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NVIVO 12 QSR International 2019 https://www.qsrinternational.com/nvivo-qualitative-data-analysis-software/homeGoogle Scholar
Orme, B 2010 Interpreting the results of Conjoint Analysis. In: Orme, B (ed) Getting Started with Conjoint Analysis: Strategies for Product Design and Pricing Research, Second Edition pp 77. Research Publishers LLC: Madison, Wisconsin, USAGoogle Scholar
Passler, T 2014 Euthanasia of farm animals. In: HuiChu, L and Walz, P (eds) Farm Animal Anaesthesia: Cattle, Small Ruminants, Camelids, and Pigs pp 248–262. Wiley Online Library: UK. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118886700.ch12CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 2019 Euthanasia of ani-mals. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guid-ance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/sup-porting-guidance/euthanasia-of-animals/Google Scholar
Sawtooth Software 2019 What is Conjoint Analysis? https://www.sawtoothsoftware.com/products/conjoint-choice-analysis/conjoint-analysis-softwareGoogle Scholar
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1946 https://iwc.int/conventionGoogle Scholar
The Marine Mammal Center 2019 Global Marine Mammal Stranding Organizations. http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/sci-ence/crc-marine-stranding-network/Google Scholar
Wright, AJ, Simmonds, MP and Galleti-Vernazzani, B 2016 The International Whaling Commission – Beyond whaling. Frontiers in Marine Science 3: 158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00158Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Stringfellow et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 248.5 KB
Supplementary material: File

Stringfellow et al. supplementary material
Download undefined(File)
File 84.6 KB