Necropsy findings in Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis) death by illegal hunting in the Canary Islands

Abstract

In this final degree project we have carried out an anatomopathological study of 20 cases of Atlantic Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis) illegally hunted in the Canary Islands, specifically on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Radiological study, necropsy and histopathology were carried out. The aims were to characterize the lesions and approximate a diagnosis for future cases of illegal hunting of Cory's shearwaters. Our results indicate that all the cases presented fractured skull bones haemorrhages associated with the fracture and epistaxis. Histologically the most consistent lesion were encephalic hemorrhages and subarachnoid haemorrhages, but other lesions in some individuals included myocardial acute degeneration, cardiac hemorrhages and segmental necrosis of the pectoral muscle. Radiological findings confirmed fracture of the neurocranium with displacement of bone fragment, complete absence of ballistic material and no fractures of long bongs. Difference in the pattern of trauma could be observed between the individuals caught in Fuerteventura and those from Lanzarote, indicating that different hunters would kill differently their preys and various practices such us the use of ferrets and asphyxiation with the animal’s own feathers should be contemplated when approaching a forensic case with these characteristics.