Deathly Silent: Exploring the Global Lack of Data Relating to Stranded Cetacean Euthanasia

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dc.citation.issue5
dc.citation.volume11
dc.contributor.authorBoys RM
dc.contributor.authorBeausoleil NJ
dc.contributor.authorBetty EL
dc.contributor.authorStockin KA
dc.contributor.editorHopper L
dc.contributor.editorLambooij E
dc.coverage.spatialSwitzerland
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-25T20:11:47Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-25T06:46:25Z
dc.date.available2021-05-19
dc.date.available2024-01-25T20:11:47Z
dc.date.available2024-07-25T06:46:25Z
dc.date.issued2021-05-19
dc.description.abstractThe compromised state of stranded cetaceans means that euthanasia is often required. However, current knowledge and implementation of euthanasia methods remain highly variable, with limited data on the practicalities and welfare impacts of procedures. This study evaluated the available published data on cetacean euthanasia, highlighting knowledge gaps and providing direction to improve stranded cetacean welfare. A total of 2147 peer-reviewed articles describing marine mammal euthanasia were examined. Of these 3.1% provided details on the method used, with 91% employing chemical methods. Two countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ), provided euthanasia reports to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) between 2007 and 2020. Methods employed were reported for 78.3% and 100% of individual cetaceans euthanised in the UK and NZ, respectively. In the UK, chemical euthanasia was most common (52%), whilst in NZ only ballistics methods were used. Few data were available about time to death/insensibility (TTD); 0.5% of peer-reviewed articles provided TTD, whilst TTD was reported for 35% of individuals in the UK and for 98% in NZ. However, IWC reports lacked detail on how death/insensibility were assessed, with multiple individuals "presumed instantly" killed. Overall, the findings highlight the lack of available information on cetacean euthanasia, and suggest increased data collection and the application of appropriate methods to improve welfare.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionMay 2021
dc.format.pagination1460-
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34069749
dc.identifier.citationBoys RM, Beausoleil NJ, Betty EL, Stockin KA. (2021). Deathly Silent: Exploring the Global Lack of Data Relating to Stranded Cetacean Euthanasia.. Animals (Basel). 11. 5. (pp. 1460-).
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/ani11051460
dc.identifier.eissn2076-2615
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2076-2615
dc.identifier.numberARTN 1460
dc.identifier.piiani11051460
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70845
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1460
dc.relation.isPartOfAnimals (Basel)
dc.rights(c) 2021 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectcetacean
dc.subjectdeath
dc.subjecteuthanasia
dc.subjectinsensibility
dc.subjectmarine mammals
dc.subjectstrandings
dc.subjectwelfare
dc.titleDeathly Silent: Exploring the Global Lack of Data Relating to Stranded Cetacean Euthanasia
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id445915
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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