233/19 | Clinical & Field Article | Wild Life Sciences
Death of a Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) Due to Rumen Impaction –An Indicator of Plastic Waste Threat to Wild Animals
Joju Johns, George Chandy, S.T. Maruthi and Tushna KarkariaCentre for Wildlife Studies, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Poo kode, Wayanad 673576, Kerala.
Published in the Indian Veterinary Journal January 2020: 97 (1) - pages 59 to 60(Received: August, 2019, Accepted: October, 2019)
Abstract
An adult female free-ranging Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor)was found weak and emaciated near a human settlement in Wayanad District, Kerala. The deer was chemically restrained with a combination of xylazineand midazolam @ 2 and0.2 mg/kg IMrespectively,followed by ketamine @1 mg/kgIV. The deer was translocated to a forest area and was administered with yohimbine@ 0.2 mg/kg IV to reverse the sedation.The animal was found dead on the third-day post-release and post-mortem examination revealedimpacted rumen with a single plastic sheet
Key Words: Plastic waste, Deer, impacted rumen