Research Project
Humane Euthanasia Methods for Anemones
Anemones are invertebrates. If they must be killed, it should be done in a manner consistent with animal welfare. This research project examined various methods for doing so.
Bubble anemones (Entacmea quadricolor) are common inhabitants of aquariums and zoos. But what method is used to kill these invertebrates? For example, because they are sick, or because their numbers in an aquarium have become too large and they threaten to upset the ecosystem’s balance?
The study systematically examined this question. After all, animal welfare is also a key concern when it comes to invertebrates such as sea anemones.
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The research team of veterinarians from the University of Zurich tested three anesthetics (magnesium chloride, MS-222, and ethanol) that are commonly used on aquatic invertebrates. None of the anesthetics, when used alone, reliably caused death. However, all of them rendered the anemones insensitive to the effective induction of death in a second step.
A two-step procedure was found to be the most animal-welfare-friendly method of euthanizing sea anemones: First, stunning with a magnesium chloride solution, followed by freezing or immersion in formalin or ethanol. These findings help us and other zoos ensure the animal welfare of sea anemones until their death.
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