Abstract
We captured sika deer (Cervus nippon) via catch-and-kill methods including driven-deer shooting; large-enclosure traps (S); stalking and shooting; sharp-shooting (SS), and methods for chemical immobilization and euthanasia or release, i.e. mobile-enclosure traps (alpine); large-enclosure traps (E); free-range ambush and shooting. Creatine kinase (CK) was measured as a physical stress index, and epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured as indices of stimulation of sympathetic neurons. CK, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were significantly higher when driven-deer shooting than when other methods were used (except in the case of the CK in SS) (P<0.05). Cortisol, which was measured as an index of mental stress, tended to be higher in enclosure traps (alpine and large enclosure traps (S, E)) than with other methods but were within normal limits for red deer (Cervus elaphus) (Gaspar-López et al., 2010). These results suggest that driven-deer shooting subjects them to strong physical stress, and that the mental stress imposed by enclosure traps is not excessive. Thus, reducing deer populations via enclosure traps is a more appropriate initial method of population management in terms of animal welfare considerations.
