Open Wide and Say "Yes."
Getting the inside scoop on a sick lion requires patience and sturdy diagnostic equipment. You can’t trust a lion or cobra to tell you where it hurts or to curl up in the front seat while you drive it to the veterinary hospital for an annual check-up or an emergency exam.
Whenever possible, zoo animals do best when they remain close to their habitats. Staying put puts less stress on an animal and its keepers and saves time in an emergency.
Portable endoscopes and ultrasound equipment allow veterinarians to reach their patients quickly and efficiently, whether responding to emergencies or scheduling and conducting routine exams. Routine exams are lifesavers; they can detect cancers or other diseases early—when treatments are most effective and outcomes most promising.
At present, the Zoo relies on portable diagnostic machines that are nearly 20 years old. Their age, coupled with the arrival of dozens of new Asian animals, has put enormous stress on the Zoo’s veterinary resources. The Zoo needs at least one new portable endoscope and one or more portable ultrasound machines to help it continue to provide high-quality care as more Asian—and later Australian—animals arrive. The new equipment’s improved images will provide veterinarians with more detailed and potentially life-saving diagnostic information.
To donate to help the Zoo purchase this life-saving equipment, click here and type the amount you want to give in the box below the "Please Enter Your Donation Amount" located near the top of the form. The minimum donation we accept is $10, but you can increase this amount by replacing the $10.00 showing in the box with the amount you want to give.
Thank you for helping the Zoo provide its animals with the best veterinary care possible.