Field anaesthesia of three Australian species of flying fox

THE field capture and restraint of flying foxes (Pteropus species) is becoming increasingly necessary given the role that these bats play in the epidemiology of emerging zoonoses and because of attempts to better understand recent worldwide declines in their numbers and distribution (Hall and Richards 2000). While it is possible to collect samples of venous blood from restrained, conscious flying foxes, for reasons of occupational health and safety and animal welfare, prolonged examination or invasive sampling require deep sedation or surgical anaesthesia. Surprisingly, there has been only one study reporting the use of isoflurane (Forthane; Abbott Australasia) anaesthesia in a limited number of individuals of a single Pteropus species (Heard and Huft 1998), and there are no reports of its use under field conditions. This short communication describes a study of field anaesthesia of three species of flying fox, using isoflurane.