A Day at the Denver Zoo Hospital (Denverite)
I usually write about keeper side of the zoo, since that's what I'm most familiar with, though I have worn a few other hats over the years. I don't tend to write much about the vet perspective, in large part because, even after all this time, I still have a kind of murky idea as to what it is they do. Possibly it's a continuation of my childhood rebellion against every well-meaning-yet-thoroughly-annoying adult who tried to shoehorn any kid who loved animals into becoming a vet.
This article by Denverite shows life inside Denver Zoo's excellent new hospital, which allows visitors the chance to better understand how the animals are cared for. It explains most things much better than I could. Unique among many zoo hospitals (though becoming more common), this one is partially open to the public, allowing the public a glimpse of what goes on when the animals have to go to the doctor.
Sometimes (as in the case in the article, spoiler alert), hard decisions have to be made, and those don't always make everyone happy. It's commendable that zoos like Denver are willing to share an insight into the process so that people can understand why zoos do what they do in terms of animal care decisions.
Denver Zoo vet staff prepare to run a CT scan on Koko the prehensile-tailed porcupine. June 12, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
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