• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.474-477
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• 2017

We described the successful treatment of cases of lead poisoning in a Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) and a Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Korea. The swan and vulture rescued were diagnosed with lead poisoning based on clinical signs, the presence of suspected lead-like particles in the ventriculus detected by radiography and elevated blood lead levels. Endoscopic retrieval for the swan and gastric lavage for the vulture were used to remove the lead respectively. After the removal of lead particles, a course of chelation treatment was administrated. This would be the first report of successfully treating wild birds with lead poisoning in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-52
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• 2020

Twenty-four cinereous vultures that had been taken to a wildlife center due to starvation and exhaustion were studied to evaluate approaches for determining sex. Coelioscopy was performed to identify sexes of two vultures, whereas, DNA testing was performed to identify the sexes of the 24 vultures. Testes and ovaries could be unambiguously identified with an endoscope and DNA analyses could identify sex sex in most, but not all of the specimens. Although the coelioscopy examination can unambiguously confirm sex, the approach is invasive and requires anesthesia. Thus, coelioscopic examination should only be performed when sex cannot be determined through DNA analysis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-260
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• 2018

Cannibalism is a widely observed phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, it is rarely found among birds outside nests in the wild because it occurs irregularly and it is almost impossible to monitor animal behavior constantly. On 17 January 2017, this behavior was directly observed from a group of vultures feeding on a conspecific in a paddy field near Lake Geumho in Haenam-gun ($34^{\circ}35^{\prime}58.25^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$, $126^{\circ}26^{\prime}57.64^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$). It was observed and recorded with the binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens in a car approximately 20 m (or 60 m) away from the site. The observer approached the feeding site after the last vulture had finished feeding and flown away and found remains of a vulture, including body feathers, skull, sterna keel, and both legs. It was the first report of cannibalism in Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus in its overwintering grounds. The remaining skeleton was very fleshy, and the surrounding grass was wet with the blood of vulture. No other traces of a mammal or bird that could have been the vultures' prey were found. This report provides a detailed account of the events related to this rare observation and the causes that might have led to it.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.380-384
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• 2015

The relationships between end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide ($P_{ET}CO_2$) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide ($P_aCO_2$), and between $P_{ET}CO_2$ and blood pH in isoflurane-anesthetized cinereous vultures were evaluated. Nine cinereous vultures (weighing 7.3-9.5 kg) were anesthetized via mask with isoflurane, intubated, and connected to a mechanical ventilator. By mechanical ventilator, respiratory rate was altered to achieve a $P_{ET}CO_2$ randomly selected among 30 to 35 mmHg. $P_aCO_2$ and blood pH were determined in serial arterial samples and compared with concurrent $P_{ET}CO_2$ measured with a sidestream capnography. Thirty six samples, nine cinereous vultures were tested 4 times each, were used to determine correlations coefficients between $P_aCO_2$ and $P_{ET}CO_2$, and between $P_{ET}CO_2$ and blood pH. Strong correlations were observed between $P_aCO_2$ and $P_{ET}CO_2$ (r = 0.951, P = 0.000, y = 1.679x - 30.236, $R^2=0.905$) as well as between $P_{ET}CO_2$ and blood pH (r = -0.728, P = 0.000, y = -0.024x + 8.389, $R^2=0.530$) with Pearson's correlation coefficient and simple linear regression. These results suggest that the capnography used provided a sufficiently accurate estimation of $P_aCO_2$ and blood pH. Thus, the monitoring of $P_{ET}CO_2$ can be useful method to prevent hypoventilation for cinereous vultures receiving mechanical ventilation.