A retrospective study was conducted on free-ranging raptors (n = 402) presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, during a 3-yr period (1997–2000). Representatives of 19 species were admitted from taxonomic orders Accipitriformes (n = 295), Falconiformes (n = 35), and Strigiformes (n = 72). Traumatic injuries (n = 305, 75.8%) were the most common cause of presentation in all raptors. Starvation (n = 38 birds, 9.4%) was the second most common reason, whereas toxicoses (n = 28, 6.9%) were suspected in a limited number of birds. Orphans (n = 31, 7.7%) were presented during breeding season primarily because of inappropriate human intervention. Surgical and medical treatment was given to all birds when necessary. In total, 229 (56.9%) of the presented raptors were successfully rehabilitated and released, 121 (30%) were rehabilitated but nonreleasable, whereas 52 (12.9%) of them died despite treatment. Human intervention (79.2%) plays the most important role in birds of prey morbidity and mortality.
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1 June 2005
A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PRESENTATION, TREATMENT, AND OUTCOME OF FREE-RANGING RAPTORS IN GREECE (1997–2000)
A. Th Komnenou,
I. Georgopoulou,
I. Savvas,
A. Dessiris
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 36 • No. 2
June 2005
Vol. 36 • No. 2
June 2005
diseases
Free-ranging raptors
Greece
morbidity
mortality