To whom it may concern: The following paper has been published in Veterinary Record: *Wound healing in long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas)* J. Giménez, R. De Stephanis, P. Gauffier, R. Esteban, P. Verborgh Veterinary Record (2011) 168, 101b doi: 10.1136/vr.c5284 Abstract: In the last decades, the use of biopsy darting increased to address several questions on cetacean biology, population structure, contaminant loads, social structure, feeding ecology, and evolutionary relationships (e.g., de Stephanis et al., 2008a,b, Walker et al., 1999, Engelhaupt et al 2009, Fossi et al. 2003, Leduc et al., 1999). So it is necessary to study the process of wound healing to assess the potential risks to the target species and different populations. Using a 67-kg draw crossbow (Zasdar), biopsy samples were successfully collected between 2004 and 2008, on 87 occasions from long-finned pilot whales in the Strait of Gibraltar but it was possible to monitor the wound healing only in 35 occasions (40% monitoring rate) with high quality photographs. Four different wound healing stages were used following Weller *et al.*(1997) and our results showed that the wound could close as rapidly as 4 days after the biopsy although stage 2 was reached on average after 60 days (Xmin= 60.33 ± 28.70 days)) when the epidermis appeared to have covered the wound judged by the smooth appearance of the wound and absence of pinkish coloration, while repigmentation phase took less than a year (Xmin= 260.48 ± 84.70) and the lack of evident infection or excessive inflammation at the biopsy site provides evidence that biopsy-darting is unlikely to cause long-term health problems for pilot whales, but gave valuable data for the management of the whales. If you are interested in the paper, you can download it in the next link: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/168/4/101.2.full.pdf Best regards, *Joan Giménez Verdugo* CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans) C/ Cabeza de Manzaneda, 3 11390 Pelayo-Algeciras Cádiz (Spain) www.circe.biz joan@circe.biz gimenez.verdugo@gmail.com