VN May 2022

Vetnuus | May 2022 8 A large collaborative study was recently established between the University of Pretoria, SANParks Veterinary Wildlife Service, and researchers from Cornell, Wits, Vienna and North West Universities. Several rhinos in Skukuzawere assessed to see the effect of different drug combinations commonly used to immobilise rhinos. This study had four components to it. One of these included assessing the cardiorespiratory effects of these drug combinations - this study forms part of Dr MathewNdunda’s (fromKenyanWildlife Service) PhD. Another component, which forms part of Dr Luke Michaelides’ MSc degree, assessed the stress responses to these drug combinations. The effects of these drug combinations on the animals’ brain activity (EEG) were led by Dr Friederike Pohlin from Vetmeduni Vienna, a former PhD student of Leith’s. The final component of the study was focused on determining how best to assess blood oxygen levels when rhinos are immobilised, and this study is part of Thembeka Mtetwa’s PhD. Although not all data has been analysed and written up, there are already exciting preliminary findings allowing the capture process to be fine-tuned to keep rhinos as safe as possible during the capture process. Dr Peter Buss, Veterinary Senior Manager, Veterinary Wildlife Services, Kruger National Park, collaborates with Leith on research to improve methods for immobilising wildlife. “It’s imperative to know what physiologically happens to a rhino when you immobilise it. What’s going on with its breathing, heart function, blood flow, and all those things? And our ultimate question is, how do we improve it? What interventions can we apply to make things safer for that rhino? And overall, how do we adjust our immobilisation protocols for rhinos?” While they currently focus on rhinos, there are plans to work on other species, including giraffes, lions, and antelope. Peter has taught veterinarians and veterinary students wildlife anaesthesiology for many years and cannot stress enough how valuable it is as a conservation technique. “Immobilising wildlife is a fundamental tool that allows us to move animals between Leading Article The reflection of Dr. Jordyn Boesch (left, Cornell University, USA) and Katherine Kewley (Masimo South Africa) monitoring the EEG of a rhino Thembeka Mtetwa (PhD student University of Pretoria) is evaluating various lab techniques, such as the use of Tucker chambers, to determine how to best assess blood oxygen levels in immobilized rhinoceros. Dr. Friederike Pohlin (Vetmeduni Vienna), monitoring the EEG on a rhino