Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
12:32
Image Rendering Techniques in Postmortem Computed Tomography: Evaluation of Biological Health and Profile in Stranded Cetaceans
Published on: September 27, 2020
Estimating the welfare impacts of differing projectile types utilised for stranded cetacean euthanasia.
Rebecca M Boys1, Ramari Oliphant Stewart2, Gordon Lye3
1Cetacean Ecology Research Group, School of Natural Science, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 102-904, Auckland, New Zealand. r.boys@massey.ac.nz.
Scientific Reports
|May 6, 2026
Summary
Euthanasia for stranded cetaceans requires effective ballistics. Deforming or monolithic projectiles showed promise for causing brainstem fractures in dolphin cadavers, but more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Wildlife Biology
- Forensic Ballistics
Background:
- Euthanasia is sometimes necessary for stranded cetaceans to reduce suffering.
- Current methods lack detailed understanding of projectile effectiveness related to cetacean anatomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cranial trauma from different projectile types in cetacean cadavers.
- To identify projectile characteristics that promote rapid insensibility and death.
Main Methods:
- Experimental ballistics trials were conducted on 30 cadavers from four odontocete species.
- Five projectile types fired from a .308 calibre rifle were tested.
- Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and dissection analyzed ballistics trauma, focusing on brainstem fractures as a proxy for insensibility.
Main Results:
- Only 56.7% of cadavers showed marked brainstem fractures.
- Non-deforming projectiles (full metal jacket, hydrostatic) resulted in less severe fractures.
- Deforming and monolithic projectiles were more effective at causing brainstem-disrupting fractures, with monolithic types appearing more suitable for bottlenose dolphins.
Conclusions:
- Deforming or monolithic projectiles are associated with a higher frequency of brainstem fractures in cetacean cadavers.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and soft tissue analysis is needed to refine species-specific equipment recommendations for effective euthanasia.
