Comparison of Physiological Stress Indices in Anesthetized and Manually Restrained Leopard Sharks, .

Background: Leopard sharks () are abundant, coastal, eastern Pacific, mesopredatory sharks and are frequently managed in aquariums and zoos. Medical examinations are a routine part of good husbandry practices, but the handling protocols vary greatly between facilities. In this study, we compared the physiological stress responses of associated with manual restraint and sedated handling under parallel holding and handling procedures in a 10 min interval.