The Big Cat Sanctuary took a crucial step in the clinical investigation of three of its residents, who underwent specialist CT scans inside a bespoke mobile unit on Monday 27th October. The procedure, involving a Tiger, a Clouded Leopard, and a Cheetah, was conducted to pinpoint the source of unexplained and persistent mobility issues.
The three patients were Luca, a four-year-old Amur Tiger; Django, a ten-year-old Mainland Clouded Leopard; and Mo, a four-year-old Southern African Cheetah. All three have experienced intermittent lameness or stiffness in their limbs, a complex issue that has so far evaded traditional diagnosis. The advanced CT (Computed Tomography) imaging was deployed as the next level of non-invasive investigation to reach the root cause of their discomfort.
The morning began with the safe and swift sedation of the animals in their dens by vet Elliott Simpson-Brown from the International Zoo Veterinary Group (IZVG) & Wildlife Vets International, using a combination anaesthetic administered via a dart gun. Once immobilised, they were gently moved to the rented mobile unit, brought on-site specifically for the day's procedures.
Django, the mainland clouded leopard
Luca, the Amur tiger
Mo, the southern African cheetah
The high-resolution scans were carried out by Donna Smyth from Burgess Diagnostics under the close supervision of Dr. Simpson-Brown and Briony Smith, Curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary.
“The entire day was a brilliant demonstration of collaborative animal welfare,” said Smith. “Ensuring the comfort and safety of our cats is always our top priority, and bringing the mobile CT unit here allowed us to achieve that goal smoothly and efficiently. The crucial partnership between The Big Cat Sanctuary, our specialist vets Elliot Simpson-Brown and Valerie Freeman, and Burgess Diagnostics has been vital in taking this significant next step towards understanding and resolving the mobility issues for Luca, Django, and Mo.”
Following their scans, the three wild cats were transported back to their respective habitats whilst still sedated, where the anaesthetic was reversed to facilitate a safe and monitored wake-up.
Django, the mainland clouded leopard
Luca, the Amur tiger
Mo, the southern African cheetah
Following their scans, the three wild cats were transported back to their respective habitats whilst still sedated, where the anaesthetic was reversed to facilitate a safe and monitored wake-up.
The CT images will now be analysed by specialist veterinary radiographers and a detailed report with findings will be available in approximately two weeks. This will then determine the necessary course of treatment for each animal to ensure their long-term health and wellbeing.
Procedures like this are costly but vital to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of animals like Luca, Django and Mo. You can help by becoming a member of The Big Cat Sanctuary, where membership contributions are used to rescue as well as fund the care of their cats, including food, veterinary care, and habitat maintenance. Become a member today, click HERE