1. Panna National Park, India
Field immobilization of Tigers (Panthera tigris) using a combination of medetomidine and ketamine
Panna National Park, India
Pradeep K. Malik

2. Study Area Panna National Park 543 km2 Central India
Miscellaneous dry deciduous forest
Interspersed with grasslands

3. Planning & Resources Survey of study area
Training of field assistants in field craft
Elephants/vehicles/equipment
Time/area/terrain/recovery conditions
Biologists/vets/anesthetist
Natural kills/baits

4. Tele Injection Location on kills Estimation of body weight/age/sex
Distance meters

5. Drugs & Dosages Medetomidine 50-60 microgram/kg Ketamine
1-2 milligram/kg
HBM

6. Data on drug/dosages and character of 11 immobilizations
Tiger (age & sex)
Date of field operation
Estimated weight (kg)
Distance (meters)
Medetomidine
Ketamine
Induction time (minutes)
Duration of procedure (minutes)
Atipamezole
Reversal time (minutes)
Female (sub adult)
9/4/96
(52*) 25
6 mg
150 mg 9
20 mg 11
Male (adult)
11/4/96
(240*) 30
12 mg
170 mg 8 40
30 mg 10
26/11/97
250 35
180 mg 70
25 mg 14
Female (adult)
27/1/97
(120*)
7.5 mg
200 mg
26/1/01
10 mg
9.5
10/1/02 20 12
26/3/98
Caught in bear leg hold trap. Immobilized with xylazine and ketamine. No data available
22/12/02
130 (108*)
2.5 ml HBM (312 mg xylazine 250 mg ketamine 16 13
7/1/99
140 (115*)
8.5 mg
27/10/01
120 18
21/12/00
130
8 mg 27
12/1/02
12.5 mg
150 7

7. Induction Time 1st sign of sedation 3-5 minutes
Recumbency minutes

8. Field Procedures Radio collaring Body measurements & weight
Monitoring of anesthesia
Blood collection

9. Reversal & Recovery
Atipamezole
i.m 3-4 times the medetomidine dose

10. Recovery times* in free ranging tigers after medetomidine-ketamine immobilization and reversal with Atipamezole
Recovery Minutes
1st sign of recovery 5-6 minutes
Heal up & sternal 8 minutes
Standing minutes
Walking minutes
* Time after administration of atipamezole

11. Monitoring
72 hours

12. Summary It is possible to use a dose of 10-12 mg of medetomidine
mg ketamine
for anesthesia of an adult male or female free ranging tiger

13. Acknowledgements Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
Wildlife Institute of India
Global Tiger Patrol
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Wildlife Conservation Society