Original scientific paper

Orchiectomy in the European brown bear

Berislav Radišić ; Clinic of Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Đuro Huber ; Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Lipar ; Clinic of Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Gomerčić ; Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Kusak ; Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Facilities for captive holding of European brown bears (Ursus arctos) are usually limited in capacity and already filled. The brown bear is a protected species, reduction of free-living population is not allowed and protection of existing numbers is requested by international conventions. The best regulation of population in captivity is by orchiectomy because of surgical simplicity and efficiency. We achieved general anaesthesia by use of a combination of ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride applied intramuscularly in four treated males. Surgical procedure of orchiectomy was carried out by closed method using two skin incisions parallel to raphe scroti in one bear and prescrotal incision in the remaining 3 bears. Spermatic cord was ligated by a triple clamp technique. Skin incisions were sutured by simple interrupted pattern with absorbable suture material. Recovery from general anaesthesia was without side-effects after a mean duration of 172 min. Mean surgery time was 54 min. The surgical wounds healed “per primam”.

Keywords

brown bear; Ursus arctos; testicle; orchiectomy; castration

Hrčak ID:

24848

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/24848

Publication date:

20.6.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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