Topeka Zoo orangutan takes road trip to Stormont Vail to ensure healthy heart

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Like lots of family members, radiologist Dr. Ken Fearn and his little ones love visiting the Topeka Zoo, such as the orangutans. He claimed they’ve even stopped in to see the new baby, Udara.

So consider the enjoyment when he acquired Udara’s dad Mawas would grow to be his individual at Stormont Vail.

Topeka Zoo animal curator Shanna Simpson claimed Mawas isn’t unwell, but they preferred to give him some extra preventative care.

“Mawas is an more mature orangutan. He’s in his 30s, and orangutans in zoos and in the wild normally have a lot of cardiac concerns. It is the amount a single lead to of dying in orangutans,” she defined. “We really want to be guaranteed that his coronary heart is wholesome and if he is going to have difficulties, that we capture it early so we can assistance him with medicine.”

Simpson said carrying out that meant receiving Mawas an test a bit beyond what the zoo could do on web page.

“Orangutans have what is known as an air sac, and it is made use of for vocalizing. It is extremely tricky to see as a result of that,” she said. “We have ultrasound tools listed here at the zoo, we have radiograph tools right here, we have a definitely excellent state-of-the-art hospital in this article, but we desired just that just one extra detail to get by means of that air sac.”

The Topeka Zoo attained out to Stormont Vail, who agreed to aid. A number of months ago, Mawas was set less than anesthesia and taken to the medical center for a CT scan.

Simpson claimed it was an intensive process, setting up with supplying Mawas an injection in his enclosure, then getting him to the zoo’s animal healthcare facility for extra preparation, in advance of loading him into a van to acquire to the medical center.

There, medical center team, additional stability, and an entourage of zoo team, such as zoo veterinarian Dr. Shirly Llizo, carried Mawas by means of a facet entrance suitable into the radiology section and into the CT scanning space. The clinic had further sanitation measures in position, together with an extra drape on the scanner desk,

Dr. Fearn said the planning is what took added time. The scanning course of action by itself, he claimed, was essentially the similar as a human, however he did do a tiny investigate on the anatomy.

“The head and neck were really different,” he reported. “Our skull has extremely minimal muscle mass on it and incredibly his was inches thick and the cranium itself was a great deal smaller sized. I didn’t hope that. Also, in his neck, it was really interesting, there was a big air sac on the entrance and the entire factor was entire of air – which seems really terrifying for a human radiologist!”

Dr. Fearn and Dr. Llizo will critique the scans to see if Mawas demonstrates any cause for issue. All associated say it is a different example of performing alongside one another to give the animals the ideal treatment attainable.

“It’s genuinely remarkable the partnerships we have with our group. It is so superb. Every person just jumps up to enable us,” Simpson reported.

“It’s pleasant being in a position to go to the zoo and see these animals and know that we’re there to be support out when we require to,” Dr. Fearn stated.

As for irrespective of whether the practical experience will gain Dr. Fearn any additional ‘cool points’ with his young ones, he laughs.

“I’m their dad. They really don’t believe I’m great!” he explained.

Stormont has partnered with the zoo in the earlier for exams on animals, including a gorilla, a black bear, and a tortoise. They even scanned the fetlocks on a giraffe who handed absent, to assist in analysis that could support other giraffes.