Zoological institutions, which were once exclusively for entertainment, are now leaders of wildlife conservation. This centuries-long transition was punctuated by key milestones that reformed wild animal exploitation into a mission protection. Modern zoos perform ex situ activities to preserve natural resources, enabled the housing species. Zoo-managed animals facilitate new scientific knowledge, public education, and strategic breeding maintain genetic diversity. Prioritizing welfare...

A 20-year-old, female African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was examined because of ataxia and weakness. Radiographs were unremarkable, results a complete blood cell count revealed leukocytosis heterophilia. Because poor response to therapy with meloxicam, doxycycline, enrofloxacin; deteriorating condition; prognosis, the euthanatized. Postmortem examination 2 dark red nodules in liver. No grossly visible mass observed syrinx. Histologic liver syrinx similar foci round, oval,...

In this study, adult intact male and female ( n = 10) naked mole rats Heterocephalus glaber ) were anesthetized by using a combination of ketamine (20 mg/kg IM), alfaxalone (4.0 IM). Induction recovery times recorded. Vital parameters, including heart rate, respiratory reflexes, monitored every 5 min during the anesthetic period. Anesthetic induction was smooth rapid. time significantly longer in (median, 325 s; range, 180 to 385 s) than females 145 118 s). addition, overall duration loss...

Abstract OBJECTIVE To compare anesthetic effects of alfaxalone-ketamine-dexmedetomidine (AKD) and alfaxalone-butorphanol-midazolam (ABM) in naked mole-rats ( Heterocephalus glaber ). ANIMALS 20 mole-rats. PROCEDURES Naked received AKD (alfaxalone, 2 mg/kg; ketamine, dexmedetomidine, 0.02 n = 10) or ABM butorphanol, midazolam, 1 9) IM; animal was removed from the study. Atipamezole (I mg/kg) flumazenil (0.1 were administered 40 minutes after induction (defined as loss righting reflex) with...

For giraffes, few standardized methods exist for quantifying chronic stress. Allostatic load index is quantified from a panel of multi-system stress biomarkers to estimate cumulative Our objective was determine whether selected their role in allostatic would reflect the number documented events experienced by giraffes. Cortisol, DHEA-S, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and fructosamine were determined serum samples zoo-housed giraffes (n = 18). These correlated with overall...

Strategically enriching the environment of zoo felids to encourage innate behaviors is essential good welfare. To investigate how engagement differs among sensory-based enrichment, six items representing tactile (firehose log, Jolly Eggs), visual (mirror, movie), and olfactory (cinnamon, cologne) sensory categories were offered three adult cheetah siblings. Each item was four times: twice during daytime hours overnight (≥5 h/occasion). Static video monitoring used frequency duration for each...

A subadult, male bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was evaluated after being found unable to fly, with large eschars on the dorsal head and right stifle. Because of appearance location, lesions were believed be caused by an electrical injury. Treatment included oral antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medication, surgical debridement eschars, trephining affected inner table cranium. full-thickness skin graft performed expedite wound healing minimize holding time....