A retrospective study on the immobilisation of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at UWEC, Uganda

The study used the records of 188 chimpanzees that were immobilised with medetomidine and ketamine for annual health checks from 1998 to 2020. The initial dose for each animal was estimated as 5 mg/kg ketamine plus 0.05 mg/kg medetomidine administered intramuscularly. When necessary, additional intramuscular top-ups of 5 mg/kg ketamine plus 0.05 mg/kg medetomidine were given. Monitoring started from the moment the animals were on the examination table until they were placed back in their enclosure. All animals were positioned in dorsal recumbency. Physiologic parameters including heart rate (beats per minute), respiration rate (breaths per minute), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2, %) and rectal temperature (°C) were measured. Atipamezole was administered at five times the dose of medetomidine. Time to first sign of sedation, time to recumbency, time from darting to reversal, time to first sign of recovery, time to head up and sternal, and time to standing were also measured.