Immobilization of polar bears (Ursus maritimus, Phipps) with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride.

Free ranging polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were immobilized using a concentrated solution of 200 mg ketamine HCl and 200 mg xylazine HCl per ml. A mean dosage of 6.8 mg (n = 21) of each drug/kg body weight was successful in immobilizing polar bears older than one year and 2.