Boesch, Jordyn M.Gleed, Robin D.Buss, Peter ErikTordiffe, Adrian Stephen WolferstanZeiler, Gareth EdwardMiller, Michele A.Viljoen, FrancoisHarvey, Brian H.Parry, Stephen A.Meyer, Leith Carl Rodney2025-10-302025-10-302025-04Jordyn M. Boesch, Robin D. Gleed, Peter E. Buss, Adrian S.W. Tordiffe, Gareth E. Zeiler, Michele A. Miller, Francois Viljoen, Brian H. Harvey, Stephen A. Parry, Leith C.R. Meyer, Etorphine induces pathophysiology in immobilized white rhinoceros through sympathomimesis that is attenuated by butorphanol, Conservation Physiology, Volume 13, Issue 1, 2025, coaf009, pp. 1-21, https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coaf009.2051-1434 (online)10.1093/conphys/coaf009http://hdl.handle.net/2263/105048DATA AVAILABILITY : All relevant data and resources can be found within the article and its supplementary information.Please read abstract in the article. LAY SUMMARY White rhinoceros are a sentinel species for ecosystems in southern Africa. Their conservation is dependent on occasional immobilization with the ultra-potent opioid etorphine. Unfortunately, etorphine produces sympathetic nervous system upregulation and severe physiological perturbations that may cause morbidity and mortality. Attenuating its effects contributes to white rhinoceros conservation.en© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).ButorphanolCeratotherium simumWhite rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)EtorphineHypoxaemiaNoradrenalineSympatheticConservationArticle