An appraisal of naloxone hydrochloride as a narcotic antagonist in the capture and release of wild herbivores.

Naloxone hydrochloride was used as the narcotic antagonist during capture operations conducted on 84 specimens of 11 game species in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. It was found that 10 mg of naloxone was sufficient to antagonize wide dosage ranges of etorphine hydrochloride or fentanyl, used in combination with a variety of tranquilizers. The absence of undesirable side effects and the fact that naloxone can be administered without fear of overdosage make it a unique and valuable drug in the capture and release of wild animals.