Cardiopulmonary response of anesthetized polar bears to suspension by net and sling

Since 1995, at least three polar bears (Ursus marirtimus) have died in the area of Churchill (Manitoba, Canada) as a direct result of being suspended in a net during helicopter-assisted translocations. To assess and. improve methods of suspending anesthetized polar bears, we conducted a study during November 1997 to determine the cardiopulmonary responses of eight captive polar bears to suspension by net and by sling. Each bear was anesthetized o n two occasions in which the sequence of activities followed and the type o f data collected was identical, with only the method of suspension differin g. Control data obtained from 11 captive polar bears during 1995-96 was inc luded in the statistical analyses of cardiopulmonary data to help clearly d ifferentiate the cardiopulmonary effects of suspension from those of drug m etabolism. Suspending polar bears above the ground by net caused acute hype rtension (e.g., 17 to 49% increase in mean arterial pressure), possibly as a result of increased venous return due to body compression. Increased arou sal (e.g., head, tongue, and limb movement) also occurred consistently duri ng net-suspension and suggested a stress response. Surprisingly, most suspe nded bears showed little change in blood gas values, but at least one bear became hypoxemic (i.e., PaO2 < 60 mm Hg) with each method of suspension. Be cause of the potential health risks of hypertension and hypoxemia, we recom mend modifying the method by which polar bears are suspended with the goal of reducing body compression.