Whale euthanasia

RE: Whale euthanasia

Julian Earl — Wed, 26 May 2021 10:13:58 GMT

No-one suggested using a Russian harpoon yet?? They seem to work pretty well??

Apologies for my bad taste...? really, I am sorry if it offends..., but it had to be said!

RE: Whale euthanasia

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 13 May 2021 18:20:13 GMT

Shooting should be confined to persons already highly skilled. It's not easy to hit a whale's brain. I certainly would not try. A .308 should do it, i would guess, especially if expanding ammunition can be obtained.

Using a tail vein or veins is the conventional and better method.

When I trained on whales, intravenous Immobilon was favoured, though the agonal symptoms could distress the general public. But Immobilon's gone now.

RE: Whale euthanasia

Bob Russell — Thu, 13 May 2021 16:55:36 GMT

Twitter just shows the common sense of many and the pig ignorance of others.

Loved the one about hitching it to a passing Chinook!!

RE: Whale euthanasia

Philip Taragel — Wed, 12 May 2021 16:43:31 GMT

Quite a few years ago back in Australia, I attended quite a few whale standings and for euthanasia of the smaller cetaceans we would pre med valium than place catheters in both tail veins and Pentothal.

Always sad and challenging on many fronts.

RE: Whale euthanasia

Iain Richards — Tue, 11 May 2021 18:14:28 GMT

Needs a pretty beefy charge 12 bore solig slug or something. I forget the exact point of aim, but I think it's in front of the blowhole amiming between the pectoral fins.

RE: Whale euthanasia

Julian Earl — Tue, 11 May 2021 08:08:55 GMT

Hello,

I'm afraid that I do not have the answer immediately to hand but from years ago I acquired a booklet covering this subject and it described where to aim a high-powered bullet [ entry point near the blow-hole IIRC? or where to inject etc. But that booklet is safely stored somewhere. My point is that the information is out there somewhere! I think the booklet was issued b the RSPCA about 30-40 years ago but probably still applies? If I thought l that I would really need it I could dig the booklet out. But my days of sny practicsal involvement with such s situation are gone now thank goodness.

RE: Whale euthanasia

Coopers Wamae — Mon, 10 May 2021 23:20:42 GMT

The demonization against Vets going on around this split decision is some thing to worry about. Some of the comments on twitter.mobile.twitter.com/.../1391815140526497792

RE: Whale euthanasia

David Mills — Mon, 10 May 2021 23:05:24 GMT

I think it's normally sedated and then either a tail vein used or intracardiac. In the US they favour KCl but pento works obviously. I think the intracardiac needle is a metre long.