If you checked out the new Animal Care Center you probably noticed that there is a nutrition zoo kitchen, a veterinary operating/procedure room and a veterinary laboratory. You may have even seen some of our Zoo Educators sometimes accompanied by our special Animal Ambassadors from Jambo Junction.
If you are interested in the health care of our animal collection and have not explored the Animal Care Center yet, I highly recommend it. I would like to share with you some of the rooms behind the scenes of the Animal Care Center that are also involved with the veterinary care. There are a few different rooms that are incorporated in the new care facility that are not on display to our guests but they still play an essential role in the care of our animals.
Radiology
Have you ever had an x-ray taken? Most people have, but did you know that we have a digital x-ray machine to instantly take a radiograph of our hospital patients. The radiology room is very close to the treatment area you may see a portion of it from the viewing area and this room is close by in case the veterinarians determine they need more diagnostics. Luckily, for those of you who like to see the whole picture, the team members involved will upload the radiograph to a monitor in the guest viewing area.
Can you guess what animals are in these radiographs? *Hint I mentioned the name of one of the animals in my blog.
Three-Banded Armadillo
Asian Small Clawed Otter
The Pharmacy
Have you ever suffered from a cold and needed a prescription? The next room on this behind the scenes tour is the Hospital Pharmacy; this is where medications are stored for treating Busch Gardens Zoo animals. Also, in the pharmacy are fluids that are used during surgery procedures and other necessary hospital supplies.
Animal Hospital Ward
A room I think you may find most interesting and one of my favorite places to visit is the Animal Hospital Ward, here you can find anything from an Otter to a Kangaroo! Animals are transported here that need special care and attention. This close proximity allows for hospital staff to make frequent checks, perform frequent treatments and procedures by having the animals nearby. There are three different animal hospital wards: a mammal ward, reptile ward, and an avian ward. Another room that is used for more critical patients is called the Intensive Care Unit.
Soiled and Clean Utility Room & Scrub Area
There is a soiled and clean utility room, a storage area for clean instruments as well as a surgical wash room adjacent to the treatment area. The soiled utility room is used for cleaning surgery instruments and washing laundry. After surgeries hospital staff will clean off any used instruments and then they will autoclave them to keep them as sterile as possible for the next procedure.
Once they are done being cleaned and prepped in that room, the supplies will be moved over one room to be stored until they are ready to be used. In this room all clean items are kept and the next door over to this room there is a sink for the veterinarians and technicians to scrub before a veterinary procedure, before you see them in the spotlight.
We have had so many great sucess stories come from the Animal Care Center. Here are a few of the most popular blogs from the past few months that covered some of the procedures:
- "Surgical Procedure On Female Tiger At The Animal Care Center"
- "Not For the Faint of Heart: Treating a Rattlesnake at the Animal Care Center"
- "Busch Gardens Tampa’s Famous Cheetah Cub Visits the Animal Care Center for His First Annual Exam"
- "Leapin' Lemurs! More Babies to Come to Busch Gardens"
- "“Down Under” Dentistry - Red Kangaroo Visits the Animal Care Center"
- "Emu Hatchings at the Animal Care Center"
- "Hook, Line and Sinker: Success Story for an Injured Loon"
