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1 May 2012 A case of a brown bear poisoning with carbofuran in Croatia
Slaven Reljić, Emil Srebočan, Djuro Huber, Josip Kusak, Jelena Šuran, Stjepan Brzica, Slavena Cukrov, Andreja Prevendar Crnić
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Abstract

We provide the first known documentation of a fatal brown bear (Ursus arctos) poisoning with carbofuran (an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor) in Croatia. Diagnosis using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of high concentrations of carbofuran in liver and kidney tissue (12.650 and 2.695 ppm, respectively). These measurements, combined with the very small distance between poisonous baits and the brown bear carcass, provided the basis on which we concluded that the animal consumed a lethal dose of carbofuran and succumbed to acute poisoning soon thereafter. We believe this mortality was caused by the illegal placement of this poison probably to eliminate perceived pests, such as jackals (Canis aureus) or foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Our documentation may help identify similar cases and raise awareness of the risks posed by illegal poisons for non-target species, particularly scavengers such as bears.

Slaven Reljić, Emil Srebočan, Djuro Huber, Josip Kusak, Jelena Šuran, Stjepan Brzica, Slavena Cukrov, and Andreja Prevendar Crnić "A case of a brown bear poisoning with carbofuran in Croatia," Ursus 23(1), 86-90, (1 May 2012). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-11-00019.1
Received: 23 September 2011; Accepted: 1 January 2012; Published: 1 May 2012
KEYWORDS
brown bear
carbofuran
Croatia
gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
poisoning
Ursus arctos
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