Surgical implantation of intra-abdominal radiotransmitter and observation of postoperative behaviour in the River Otter (Lutra lutra) of Korea

Abstract

Radiotelemetry device was surgically implanted in the abdomen of a Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra). Behaviors of the otter, hospitalized after surgical implantation were also observed. The surgical techniques involved an incision in the paralumbar fossa to introduce a radiotelemetry device into the abdominal cavity. Thirteen behaviors of the otter during hospitalization following abdominal surgery were observed and the time budget of each behavior and the times at which each behavior seems to appear most frequently were measured. This report could provide surgical techniques involving intra-abdominal implantation in otter and basic information associated with otter's behaviors duringhospitalization.