Summary of Receiving the APE-solute best care at the Virginia Zoo:
The Virginia Zoo has four adult orangutans, which are critically endangered species in the wild. Cardiovascular disease has been identified as a major cause of illness and death in orangutans and other great apes in human care. The Great Ape Heart Project (GAHP) was founded in 2010 to study heart disease in great apes, and the Virginia Zoo is partnering with them for a complete cardiac work-up of their orangutans. This includes advanced imaging such as radiographs, echocardiograms, and abdominal ultrasounds. The data collected will help further understand orangutan heart disease and contribute to conservation efforts. The veterinary team at the zoo will also gather additional data recommended by the orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP), including monitoring blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and heart rate and collecting samples for analysis. The examinations will be performed under anesthesia to ensure thorough evaluations and safety. The orangutans have been trained to participate voluntarily in wellness checks through positive reinforcement. Updates on the examination results and contributions to the GAHP’s research will be provided in the future.
Summary:
– The Virginia Zoo is home to four adult orangutans, critically endangered species.
– Cardiovascular disease is a major threat to orangutans and other great apes living in human care.
– The Great Ape Heart Project (GAHP) aims to collect and analyze cardiac data to understand heart disease in great apes.
– The Virginia Zoo is partnering with the GAHP to perform cardiac evaluations on their orangutans.
– The evaluations will involve advanced imaging, including echocardiograms, to further the understanding of heart disease in orangutans.
The Virginia Zoo has been home to orangutans since 2010, and these unique great apes have quickly become beloved residents. The orangutans have captured the guests’ hearts and the dedicated animal care team with their intriguing personalities. However, their presence in zoos is not just for entertainment. Orangutans and other great apes are critically endangered in the wild, making their representation in zoos an important part of education and conservation efforts.
Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease significantly threatens orangutans, gorillas, and other great apes living in human care. This disease affects their overall well-being and hinders conservation efforts aimed at increasing their population in the wild. With limited knowledge about cardiovascular disease in orangutans, gathering more information to combat this threat has become crucial.
The Great Ape Heart Project (GAHP) was established in 2010 to address this issue. This initiative focuses on collecting and analyzing cardiac data to better understand heart disease in great apes within the zoo community. The Virginia Zoo is excited to contribute to this important research by partnering with the GAHP for a complete cardiac work-up of their orangutans.
The cardiac evaluations will involve a team of specialists, including board-certified zoo experts from the Columbus Zoo and a local veterinary internal medicine specialist. Alongside the Virginia Zoo’s veterinary team, these specialists will perform advanced imaging on the orangutans, including radiographs, echocardiograms, and abdominal ultrasounds.
Among these imaging techniques, the echocardiogram is crucial in evaluating heart health. This specific test, also known as an ultrasound of the heart, provides a multi-dimensional picture of the heart muscle in action. Cardiologists can identify potential cardiac conditions by closely examining their function using this imaging method. The data collected during these examinations will significantly contribute to the GAHP’s mission of understanding how heart disease develops throughout a great ape’s life.
In addition to the echocardiograms, the veterinary team will gather additional data recommended by the orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP). This includes monitoring blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Blood, urine, and saliva samples will also be collected during the physical exams to check for abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasounds will be performed to assess the health of the intestines, liver, and kidneys, while X-rays will provide insights into the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs.
To ensure the smooth and safe execution of these procedures, the Virginia Zoo’s dedicated Asia keeper team has spent considerable time training the orangutans to voluntarily participate in wellness checks. Through positive reinforcement, the orangutans have learned to receive vaccines, present body parts for examination, and allow monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate. This training not only helps during the anesthetized examinations but also allows for more regular monitoring of their health while they are awake. Ultimately, this reduces the need for frequent anesthesia, which inherently carries risks.
With the partnership between the Virginia Zoo and the GAHP, valuable insights into the cardiovascular health of orangutans will be gained. The data collected during these examinations will contribute to the ongoing research of the GAHP, furthering our understanding of the health and longevity of orangutans worldwide. By addressing the threat of cardiovascular disease, we can work towards conserving and protecting this critically endangered species.
Check back in several weeks to learn how the orangutan examinations went, what we have learned about these incredible creatures and the valuable data we have contributed to the GAHP’s research. Together, we can ensure the apes in our care receive the ape-solute best care they deserve.
