WildLife Group
of the SAVA
The use of
Bamanil for
the safe
immobilization
of a variety of
Southern African
wildlife species
Aleksandr
Liesel Lau
The study investigated the use of the butorphanol-
azaperone-medetomideine fixed-dose combination
known as Bamanil, produced by Wildlife
Pharmaceuticals South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Each ml of the
solution contained active pharmaceutical ingredients
as 30 mg of butorphanol, 12 mg of azaperone, and
12 mg of medetomidine. From 2014 to present,
20 lions (Panthera leo), 16 blesbok (Damaliscus
pygargus phillipsi), 12 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus),
18 giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis) and 14 African
elephants (Loxodonta Africana) were immobilized
with Bamanil to evaluate physiological parameters
during immobilization. In all the species, the Bamanil
combination was reversed with naltrexone (Trexonil®,
Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd.) at a dose of 1mg
naltrexone : 1mg butorphanol and atipamezole
(Alphanil, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd.) at a dose
of 5mg atipamezole : 1mg medetomidine. Thirteen of
the lions were reversed with naltrexone at a dose of
1mg naltrexone : 1mg butorphanol and yohimbine at
a dose of 0.2mg/kg body weight. The following results
were obtained:
12
In African lions: The Bamanil volume dose
rate administered ranged from 0.005-
0.008 ml/kg (mean: 0.006 ml/kg).The
inductions were calm and smooth
and induction time ranged from 4-10
minutes (mean: 7 minutes). The full
immobilization time was 70 minutes with
no additional drug doses that were needed. Heart
rate (mean: 40±8 beats minute-1) and respiratory
frequency (mean: 15±4 breaths minute-1) were
stable throughout immobilization. Blood pressure of
all the animals was stable but elevated (mean arterial
pressure: 142±16 mmHg). Rectal temperature slightly
increased over time but remained within an acceptable
range. The recovery time was significantly shorter
when using naltrexone and atipamezole (mean: 9
minutes) compared to using naltrexone and yohimbine
(mean: 22 minutes).
In blesbok: The Bamanil volume dose rate
ranged from 0.007-0.017ml/kg (mean:
0.012 ml/kg). Seven of the total
16 blesbok investigated
were immobilized with
Bamanil with 8000 IU
of hyaluronidase
added to the dart.
All inductions were
calm and smooth and
the median induction time was
9.6±3.2 minutes when just Bamanil
was used and 5.1±0.8 minutes when
hyaluronidase was added to the dart.
Heart rate (mean: 45 ± 6 beats minute-1)
and respiratory frequency (mean: 38 ± 4
breaths minute-1) were stable throughout
immobilization. Blood pressure of all the
animals was stable but elevated (mean
arterial pressure: 137 ± 7 mmHg). Rectal
temperature slightly increased over time but
remained within an acceptable range. The mean
recovery time after reversing with naltrexone and
atipamezole was 4.8±0.7 min.
In cheetah: The Bamanil volume dose rate
ranged from 0.009-0.014 ml/kg (mean: 0.01 ml/