Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Evaluating the Stressors Impacting Rescued Reptilian Wildlife

Version 1 : Received: 8 February 2021 / Approved: 9 February 2021 / Online: 9 February 2021 (09:23:18 CET)

How to cite: Pahuja, H.; Narayan, E. Evaluating the Stressors Impacting Rescued Reptilian Wildlife. Preprints 2021, 2021020227. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202102.0227.v1 Pahuja, H.; Narayan, E. Evaluating the Stressors Impacting Rescued Reptilian Wildlife. Preprints 2021, 2021020227. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202102.0227.v1

Abstract

Direct and indirect anthropogenic factors play a massive role in driving wildlife species towards extinction. Longitudinal retrospective studies identify key ‘factors’ responsible for the decline in numbers of wildlife, however, lack the reasoning behind the events leading to mortality. The overarching aim of this study was to categorize these ‘factors’ into different stressor categories faced by reptiles to understand its impact on an individual, and to compare how each stressor category influences the survival of an individual. The results from this study indicated that almost half of the number of reptiles being hospitalized were due to exposure to preliminary stressors such as lawn mowing incidents and pet attack. Primary and secondary admissions were fairly equal in number, however the mortality rate for secondary admissions was drastically high (~80%). The discussion integrates species’ ecology and stress physiology which can prove to have multi-faceted benefits across the fields of ecology and animal welfare. Ecologists can use the results from this study to comprehend species’ activity patterns to better plan reptilian conservation programs, whereas, for wildlife clinicians and rehabilitators, assignment of stressor categories could be a beneficial tool for bolstering the welfare monitoring program for small native reptiles in clinical settings.

Keywords

rehabilitation; stress; reptiles; injury; disease; euthanasia; trauma; clinical care

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology

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