Combination of zolazepam and tiletamine as a sedative and anaesthetic for wombats

Objective To assess the suitability of the combination of zolazepam and tiletamine for routine use as chemical restraint, sedative and anaesthetic in wild wombats. Animals Sixty common wombats, 25 southern hairy-nosed wombats and 40 northern hairy-nosed wombats. Procedure Wombats caught in cage-traps in the wild were given injections of the anaesthetic combination either intramuscularly or intraperitoneally. Anaesthesia was maintained for up to 4 h in some cases, and for 12 h in one case. All wombats were released after anaesthesia. Results and conclusion This drug combination is effective and apparently safe for the sedation or light anaesthesia of wombats. We did not observe adverse reactions or deaths and the dose range used (4 to 15 mg/kg) demonstrates a wide safety margin. The use of this anaesthetic combination was effective in reducing the stress to wombats from capture and handling.