London Zoo has launched an insightful collection of X-rays of its unique creatures to showcase its work over the previous 10 years.
Those fascinated by animal anatomy can now sift via the zoo’s archive by viewing the skeletons of birds, reptiles, and even a mountain rooster frog.
The X-rays additionally embrace a critically endangered big-headed turtle, Humboldt penguin chicks, and a Western diamondback venomous rattlesnake.
They have been all taken in the course of the zoo’s work to look after greater than 14,000 animals and 400 species.
The zoo’s vet crew stated the scans have been very important in serving to diagnose any issues and guaranteeing the animals remained “in tip-top condition”.
Sophie Sparrow, senior veterinary nurse, stated: “Many of the species in our care are threatened in the wild and are part of important global breeding programmes.
“This means we’ve got far much less medical details about them in existence than we do for home animals.”
She stated that the zoo shares this very important data from X-rays with vets and conservationists around the globe, “helping to improve animal and veterinary care globally”.
She added: “A trip to the vet is a little more complicated for a lion than it is for a house cat, so we work with zookeepers to make any treatment needed as simple as possible for the animals.
“For instance, keepers construct coaching for healthcare into the animals’ each day routines.”
She explained that when simple procedures had to be administered, like a blood test, animals don’t need to have a general anaesthetic anymore.
She said: “Animals like Banu, our Asiatic lion, are completely satisfied to easily supply up their tail for a blood draw,” as a substitute of taking the drug.
The photos have been shared forward of the conservation zoo’s Vets In Action occasion this February, which is able to see kids be a part of the vet crew in the course of the spring half-term to study extra about their work.
Source: information.sky.com”