FIELD IMMOBILIZATION OF ETHIOPIAN WOLVES (CANIS-SIMENSIS)

Telazol(R) (tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride combi nation) and a combination of ketamine hydrochloride and acepromazine w ere used to immobilize wild Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) in Ethio pia from 1988 to 1992. Telazol(R) doses of 2.1 to 6.5 mg/kg resulted i n a mean (+/-SD) induction time of 2.3 +/- 0.9 min and a mean (+/-SD) immobilization time of 82.2 +/- 28.6 min. Induction time did not diffe r by dose, wolf weight, or age, but was significantly longer for femal es. Immobilization time differed with dose, but not by wolf weight, ag e, or sex. Total recovery times ranged from 50 to 158 min. There were no apparent side effects on immobilized animals. Wolves immobilized us ing a combination of ketamine hydrochloride and acetylpromazine had lo nger induction time (3.0 +/- 0.8 min) and recovery time (114.7 +/- 29. 2 min). Telazol(R) is an effective and safe agent for immobilizing Eth iopian wolves and is preferred to ketamine/acetylpromazine.