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Improving animal welfare standards while reducing disease exposure risk during euthanasia of trapped brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2023

C Rouco ,
KS Richardson  and
DM Tompkins
C Rouco*
Affiliation:
Landcare Research, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
KS Richardson
Affiliation:
Landcare Research, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand EpiLab, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
DM Tompkins
Affiliation:
Landcare Research, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract

In New Zealand there is a long history of research studies working with wild free-living brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) where euthanasia of large numbers of animals is frequently required. The most commonly used method for euthanising trapped possums is by blunt-force trauma. If possums being euthanised are potentially infected with bovine tuberculosis (TB), however, the blunt-force trauma method is associated with risks of researcher exposure to TB infection (eg risk of being scratched, bitten or blood-splattered). Here, we trial the use of a close-range shot to the head with a high-velocity air rifle as an alternative method for the euthanasia of cage-trapped possums. Our trial revealed that the air rifle method reduced the potential disease exposure risks to researchers by minimising blood-spatter area, and by completely avoiding the likelihood of both accidents due to animal handling and animal escapes. While both methods induced immediate unconsciousness leading to death, the air rifle method was quicker (ie shorter conscious handling and total time) and arguably had better animal welfare performance by significantly reducing the time to unconsciousness. Thus, we conclude that the air rifle method is suitably humane for possum euthanasia and should be considered when dealing with potentially TB-infected cage-trapped possums.

Keywords

air rifleanimal welfareblunt-force traumashootingtuberculosiswildlife capture
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , August 2015 , pp. 235 - 239
Copyright
© 2015 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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