In brief
The newly launched Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database aims to enhance veterinary care for exotic species by providing over 10,000 medical images by 2026.
In an innovative move to aid veterinary care for rare species, the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database was unveiled last month, spearheaded by Dr. Michael Adkesson, president and CEO of Brookfield Zoo Chicago. This initiative addresses a long-standing challenge in veterinary medicine: the lack of reference data for the internal anatomy of uncommon animals. "Radiologists typically handle familiar species like dogs and cats proficiently," explains Dr. Adkesson. However, when faced with examining critters like the critically endangered black rhino, which can weigh up to 2,300 pounds, the journey to understanding their anatomy can turn daunting. After a black rhino at Brookfield Zoo experienced unexplained breathing issues in 2018, Dr. Adkesson and team successfully captured a CT scan of its head. This experience illuminated the stark absence of reference materials specifically for this species.The Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database currently hosts over 1,000 medical images—including X-rays and CT scans—across various species, including the cotton-top tamarin and the bowmouth guitarfish, formerly known as a shark ray. The collaborative effort, involving seven zoological institutions, aims to expand its repository to encompass more than 10,000 images from 500 species by 2026.This resource is poised to support wildlife veterinarians as they diagnose and treat a wide range of animal species, improving medical outcomes for animals that have long remained understudied in veterinary medicine.
