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Field immobilization for treatment of an unknown illness in a wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Gombe National Park, Tanzania: findings, challenges, and lessons learned
- Source :
- Primates. 55:89-99
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Infectious diseases are widely presumed to be one of the greatest threats to ape conservation in the wild. Human diseases are of particular concern, and the costs and benefits of human presence in protected areas with apes are regularly debated. While numerous syndromes with fatal outcomes have recently been described, precise identification of pathogens remains difficult. These diagnostic difficulties are compounded by the fact that direct veterinary intervention on wild apes is quite rare. Here we present the unique case of a wild chimpanzee at Gombe National Park that was observed with a severe illness and was subsequently examined and treated in the field. Multiple specimens were collected and tested with the aim of identifying the pathogen responsible for the illness. Our findings represent the first extensive screening of a living wild chimpanzee, yet despite our efforts, the cause and source of illness remain unknown. Nevertheless, our findings represent valuable baseline data for the ape conservation community and for comparison with other recent findings. In addition, we present the case here to demonstrate the planning required and multiple types of expertise necessary to maximize the amount of data obtained from such a rare intervention, and to provide lessons learned for future studies.
- Subjects :
- Male
Pan troglodytes
Troglodytes
Disease
Communicable Diseases
Injections, Intramuscular
Tanzania
Article
Diagnosis, Differential
Immobilization
Intervention (counseling)
Environmental health
Animals
Hematologic Tests
biology
National park
Ecology
Videotape Recording
biology.organism_classification
Ape Diseases
Geography
Animal ecology
Ketamine
Animal Science and Zoology
Identification (biology)
Blood Chemical Analysis
Locomotion
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16107365 and 00328332
- Volume :
- 55
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Primates
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4320590bab07dd6cd81157d174e3fa60