Ethics Guidelines
Part A - Guidelines for Projects Involving Work on Free-living Vertebrates
Movement around breeding wildlife
The apparent tameness of some Antarctic wildlife can give a superficial and often misleading impression of the degree to which animals are disturbed by our presence. It is therefore important that researchers always take care when moving around both breeding and non-breeding animals.
It is an offence for a person to disturb wildlife while on foot, in a vehicle or a vessel, unless specifically authorised in a permit. To avoid disturbance, guidelines have been prepared by the Australian Antarctic Division which form part of the Environmental Code of Conduct and provide recommended minimum approach distances. However, if a person observes disturbance while adhering to these distances, a greater distance should be maintained unless authorised in a permit.
If you are authorised to approach more closely, move slowly and quietly. Stay low to the ground and if possible approach from down wind. Try to avoid sudden movements and keep your voice down. Remember that your movements around wildlife will often be viewed by off-duty station personnel and you could be in the position of setting the standard through example.
Section 1 - Capture of Seals and Birds
1.1 Capture of Seals
Without exception this procedure is dangerous to both handlers and seals. It usually requires several strong operators working under experienced guidance. All operators should be completely clothed, including legs, arms and hands. The techniques used vary not only with species, but with age-classes of animals. At least one person experienced in the particular capture method should be present.
In order to reduce stress, capture should be rapid, and the pursuit kept to a minimum. Where possible, animals isolated from other seals should be selected in order to reduce the level of disruption to the group.
Equipment used for catching seals (particularly head bags) should be washed before being used on other species because of the possibility of transfer of diseases between species.
1.1.1 Young pups
For young pups of most seals it is possible to facilitate capture by grasping the rear flippers, moving the animal away from the mother or other seals if necessary, and using physical restraint. It has been found with Weddell seals that adult females will often ignore the researchers' handling of their pup provided the pup does not cry out, and that covering the pup's head with a hessian sack can result in the pup staying quiet. If some attempt is made to distract the cow whilst others try to quieten the pup and hide it from the mother's view behind rafted ice, day packs or the researchers themselves, it has been shown that she will often search elsewhere for her pup and not harass the researchers. It may be necessary for an additional operator to prevent attack from the mother, or other pinnipeds, with the use of a pole.
Physical restraint should only be used when a minor procedure is to be carried out, and it should be for as short a duration as possible. Care must be taken not to impede the respiratory or cardiovascular system of the seal and respiration should be monitored at all times. Restraint should be terminated and the seal released, if the animal is judged to be distressed.
A lightweight, long piece of PVC tubing with a tennis ball taped to the end has been shown to be effective protection when working with male and female elephant seals. If necessary, a gentle tap on the nose with the tennis ball can keep the cow away long enough to allow a pup to be weighed, measured, tagged or blood to be taken. The tennis ball would also protect the animal's mouth and teeth should they bite at the pole.
A pole with a semi circle of metal on the end has been found to work well with female fur seals and some bulls to halt their advance without causing injury, however, with other bulls it is almost impossible to prevent them attacking regardless of the technique applied. In these cases, pups or cows may need to be removed from the harem to a point where the bull will no longer pursue the operator.
When working with crabeater and leopard seals, 17 mm thick marine-ply baffle boards placed between the mother and pup, or in front of the male, may provide some protection.
1.1.2 Physical restraint
Southern phocid pups and weaners can be physically restrained by sitting astride the animal's shoulders and lifting the fore-flippers off the ground. If necessary a second operator can put pressure on the animal's pelvis.
Hoop nets are appropriate for fur seals of all age classes, possibly excluding mature bulls. Sophisticated net design and fabric are available from specialist manufacturers. Soft, strong net of a fairly fine mesh size should be selected to avoid catching the seal's teeth or cutting the seal's face and flippers. The net should be washed frequently to remove accumulated debris.
Other net systems, such as 'Wally nets' can be used on larger animals such as mature fur seal bulls. These are large throw nets with a purse rope around the perimeter and generally at least four people would be needed in their operation. Chemical immobilisation can be administered once the seal is physically restrained. A good reference for several other methods of restraining fur seals is Gentry and Holt (1982).
Mature leopard seals need special treatment because of their great strength and agility. Attempts to restrain them with nets are dangerous to both investigator and animal (which may go back to the water with the net). Because of their lack of fear of people and apparent curiosity, leopard seals often approach an investigator and this may be mistaken for aggression.
1.1.3 Use of head bags
Light-proof head bags should be used in all cases of physical restraint as they reduce the amount of struggling. Plentiful holes of sufficient size must be provided to ensure breathing is not impaired. If used in conjunction with sedation, nostrils and gums should remain visible and visual access to the eye should be achievable.
1.1.4 Chemical capture
See Section 4
1.2 Capture and handling of Birds
1.2.1 Penguins
Adelie penguins away from the nest are best captured with a bag on a long handled hoop. The bag should be made of a light-proof material (black). Remove the bird from the bag by first securing the legs with one hand and with the other gathering the body. The bird can then be held under the arm with an unrestrained head pointing backwards.
Wherever possible capture penguins away from the colony to minimise disruption to breeding birds. If penguins must be captured at the nest, try and select penguins occupying edge nests, rather than those in the centre of the colony. Where possible, work only on colonies with greater than 100 breeding pairs, as smaller colonies may be more susceptible to decrease when subjected to regular and repeated human disturbance.
Penguins should never be lifted by the neck, flippers or a single foot. Minimise the amount of time penguins are handled by having all necessary equipment organised and ready at hand and streamlining procedures as much as possible. Do this before any birds are first captured. This is particularly important for birds you have removed from a nest with eggs or small chicks.
When weighing adult penguins use a cone shaped bag and when weighing chicks use a tightly woven linen sack.
Adelie penguins incubating can be captured by first holding the tail and tipping the bird onto its beak. The eggs can then be taken away so they are not broken when the bird is picked up.
When removing a penguin from its nest, immediately after the penguin has been removed, nests should be covered with a cloth or bag weighted at the edges to prevent demolition of the nest by other birds (particularly important for Adelie penguins).
For nests with eggs or chicks less than 2 weeks of age a small esky with a warm (approximately 25ºC ) water bottle is needed to 'store' eggs and chicks whenever the adult is being restrained off its nest. When returning adults to the nest, replace the eggs and/or chicks first and immediately release the adult close to, but not directly over the nest as this may result in accidental damage to the nest contents once the adult is released. Particular care needs to be taken when re-uniting adults with chicks older than 2 weeks since the chicks are both mobile and vulnerable to attack.
1.2.2 Other birds
Other birds (skuas, etc.) should be caught and restrained according to the procedures laid down in the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme's Bird Banders Manual.
To reduce the chance of injury to the bird, capture of flying birds at the nest should be done by hand, preferably without the use of gloves, to increase handler sensitivity. The use of nooses to capture surface nesting birds is particularly discouraged.
As for penguins, remember the following when handling flying birds:
- Do not handle birds by the neck, wings or a single foot.
- Reduce handling times by having equipment organised and procedures streamlined.
- Ensure the safety of nests and nest contents after adults are removed from active nests.
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