Containment · Controlled Procedure
VC-SOP-0223 — Venus Sentinel Carnivore Handling & Feeding
The controlled procedure for safe handling, scheduled feeding, and enclosure servicing of the large carnivorous Venus Sentinel specimen units — accounting for trap-mechanism closure force and the unit's airborne lure-VOC field.
A Venus Sentinel trap closes faster than a hand can withdraw. Class-III and Class-IV units exert lethal closure force and emit a lure-VOC field that induces approach-disorientation in unprotected personnel. No handler enters the strike envelope without the trap mechanically pinned, a respirator rated for lure VOCs, and a second handler on the safety line. Feeding and servicing of Class-IV units are GCL-4 operations and inherit VC-SOP-0204 in full.
1. Purpose
To define the controlled procedure for feeding, handling, and servicing the carnivorous Venus Sentinel specimen units so that the trap-mechanism and lure-VOC hazards are managed by enforced standoff distances, mechanical pinning, and dual-handler discipline — protecting personnel while maintaining specimen health.
2. Scope
Applies to all Venus Sentinel units (VS-01 through VS-09) across Classes I–IV resident in the Phyto-Synthesis Bay carnivore wing and the deep Bio-Vault tier. Covers feeding schedule, standoff distances, trap pinning, lure-VOC control, and enclosure servicing. Class-IV containment discipline is governed by VC-SOP-0204; enclosure seal status by VC-SOP-0207. Excludes propagation and tissue sampling, governed by VC-SOP-0118.
3. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Trap Mechanism | The hinged bilobed snap-structure of the Sentinel; closes on trigger-hair stimulus with unit-class-dependent force. |
| Strike Envelope | The radial volume within reach of a primed trap; entry is prohibited unless the trap is mechanically pinned. |
| Lure VOC | The volatile attractant emitted by the unit; induces approach-disorientation in personnel above the exposure threshold. |
| Trap Pin | The certified mechanical restraint that holds the lobes open, disabling closure during servicing. |
| Safety-Line Handler | The second handler who never enters the envelope, holds the recovery line, and aborts the task on command. |
4. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Containment Officer (Owner) | Authorizes feeding and servicing windows; signs off trap-pin verification for Class-III+; owns this SOP. |
| Primary Carnivore Handler | Performs feeding and servicing within procedure; confirms trap pin before envelope entry. |
| Safety-Line Handler | Stays outside the envelope, monitors the primary, holds the recovery line, and calls aborts. |
| Botanical Veterinarian | Sets feeding mass/cadence; assesses unit health and any failure-to-trigger or over-closure. |
| CHLORA | Tracks feeding schedule, monitors lure-VOC concentration via PhytoSense Mesh, and logs every envelope entry. |
5. Equipment & Pre-Checks
- Certified trap pins sized to the unit class, inspected for deformation before use
- Respirator rated for lure VOCs; bay lure-VOC reading below 8 ppm before entry
- Extended feeding tongs (reach beyond the standoff distance in Section 6)
- Recovery line and harness for the primary handler
- Enclosure ΔP and seal confirmed per VC-SOP-0207
- Feeding mass prepared per veterinarian's prescription; CHLORA feeding window open
6. Feeding Schedule & Safe Standoff Distance
| Unit Class | Closure Force / Hazard | Feeding Cadence & Mass | Min. Safe Standoff (unpinned) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class I | Low; sub-injury closure | Every 4 days · 40 g | 0.5 m |
| Class II | Moderate; bruising/laceration risk | Every 6 days · 120 g | 1.0 m |
| Class III | High; crush/amputation risk + lure VOC | Every 9 days · 350 g | 2.0 m · trap pin required |
| Class IV | Lethal closure force; strong lure VOC field | Every 14 days · 900 g | 3.5 m · trap pin + GCL-4 protocol |
| Class IV (dormancy break) | Unpredictable trigger; elevated lure VOC | Veterinarian-directed only | No envelope entry; remote feed only |
7. Procedure
7.1 Pre-Feed Setup & Hazard Check
- Confirm CHLORA feeding window is open and the unit is due per Section 6; verify enclosure seal and ΔP.
- Read bay lure-VOC concentration; do not proceed if above 8 ppm — purge the enclosure and re-test.
- Both handlers don respirators; the safety-line handler takes position outside the strike envelope.
7.2 Trap Pinning (Class III & IV)
- From outside the standoff distance, set the certified trap pin to hold the lobes open; verify positive engagement before any approach.
- Containment Officer (or designee on the line) confirms pin engagement for Class-III+; CHLORA logs the confirmation.
- For Class-IV dormancy-break state, do not pin or enter — use remote feed delivery only.
7.3 Feeding
- Deliver the prescribed mass with extended tongs, keeping the body and limbs outside the strike envelope on unpinned units.
- For pinned Class-III+, the primary handler may enter the envelope only with the pin verified and the safety line attached.
- Observe trigger and closure response; report failure-to-trigger or sluggish closure to the veterinarian.
7.4 Enclosure Servicing & Withdrawal
- Perform substrate, drainage, and lure-vent servicing with the trap pinned and the safety line attached.
- Remove the trap pin last, from outside the standoff distance, and confirm the unit re-arms normally.
- Both handlers withdraw; CHLORA closes the entry record and resets the feeding countdown.
7.5 Quality Checkpoints
- Lure-VOC below 8 ppm and respirators donned before approach
- Trap pin verified and CO-confirmed for Class-III+ before envelope entry
- Standoff distance maintained on all unpinned units
- Safety-line handler in position and never inside the envelope
- Prescribed feeding mass delivered and trigger response logged
- Trap pin removed from standoff and unit re-armed before withdrawal
8. Records
- Feeding log: date, unit, mass delivered, trigger response (retained 10 years)
- Trap-pin verification and CO confirmation for Class-III+ entries
- Lure-VOC readings before and after each operation (CHLORA)
- Envelope-entry log with both handler identities
- Veterinarian health assessments and any incident reports
9. References
- VC-SOP-0204 — GCL-4 Containment & Handling
- VC-SOP-0207 — Containment Sphere Integrity Verification
- VC-SOP-0401 — Emergency Containment Breach Response
- VC-SOP-0118 — Carnivore Propagation & Tissue Sampling
- VC-SOP-0301 — PPE Selection Matrix
- Monitoring Systems · Operational Metrics
10. Revision History
| Rev | Date | Author | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2088-03-21 | Containment Officer | Initial issue; unit-class feeding cadence and standoff distances established. |
| B | 2089-11-27 | Containment Officer | Trap-pin verification, lure-VOC threshold, and dormancy-break remote-feed rule added. CBO approval. |
| — | 2091-11-27 | Containment Officer | REVIEW DUE. Scheduled biennial review reached; revision pending Class-IV dormancy-break data and CBO re-approval. |