Sedation and Anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): A Retrospective Review (2009–2019)

A retrospective review of anesthetic records from 2009 to 2019 reveals that sedation and general anesthesia can be successfully performed on Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) using a combination of an α2-adrenergic agonist, ketamine, and either midazolam or a μ-opioid receptor agonist. The study analyzed 64 anesthetic events across 34 tortoises, demonstrating minimal adverse effects and no mortality during the peri-anesthetic period. This finding provides critical insights into safe and effective anesthetic protocols for these imperiled species, which are often challenging to manage due to their size and unique physiological traits.

Turner, R. C., Gatson, B. J., Hernandez, J. A., Alexander, A. B., Aitken-Palmer, C., Vigani, A., & Heard, D. J. (2021). Sedation and Anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): A Retrospective Review (2009–2019). Animals, 11(10), 2920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102920