Applications of Laparoscopic Techniques in Wildlife

ABSTRACT Sex identification, reproductive management, and the diagnosis and treatment of disease are the foci of wildlife conservation. The application of scientifically sound techniques is an important means to protect both wildlife and the natural environment. With the rapid development of minimally invasive surgery, the application of laparoscopic techniques in wildlife has gradually become more widespread. In this study, the keywords “laparoscopy, endoscopy, coelioscopy, wildlife, wild, and animal” were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The content includes species, types of surgery, advantages, and limitations. Based on the articles related to laparoscopic applications in wildlife, this paper has divided them into four parts and selectively cited them. (i) Laparoscopic techniques can be used for sex identification in fish, reptiles, and birds; (ii) neutering and artificially assisted reproduction can be performed in wildlife; (iii) the abdominal cavity can be visually probed for disease diagnosis; and (iv) compared to traditional approaches, the treatment of wildlife abdominal diseases is less harmful. This paper provides a reference for the application of laparoscopic techniques in wildlife.