Capture and immobilisation of cuscuses and ringtail possums in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

We evaluated two methods (daytime and night-time searches) for capturing montane possums, the dose of ketamine HCl needed for their short-term restraint, its influence in effect length and recovery length, the effect of body weight, and differences between species and sexes. Daytime searches required significantly more effort to find animals, and provided significantly fewer captured animals per unit effort, than night-time searches. Chances of capturing animals once detected were higher during daytime. Drug doses of 9–17 mg kg^–1 immobilised animals within 1 min (±1.25, s.d.), effects lasted 19 min (±1.34), and recovery took an additional 28 min (±1.29). Significant effects on effect length and recovery were observed only for drug dose, but these are weak. We recommend finding animals before dawn, following them to their dens, and capturing them during daylight as the safest and most effective method for montane possums of New Guinea. For short-term restraint, a dose of 10 mg kg^–1 ketamine HCl is sufficient.