ANNUAL REPORT 2006 - Denver Zoo

20Above | Dr. Felicia Knightly (right) and veterinary technician Cindy Bickelcomplete a neonatal exam on one of three Asiatic black bear cubs.Right | Dr. Dave Kenny utilizes an endoscope to remove coins ingestedby a Humboldt penguin. Unfortunately, zoo visitors mistake exhibit pools forwishing wells. Every attempt is made to dissuade guests from throwing coinsor other objects into exhibits.ANIMAL HEALTHDEPARTMENTDavid Kenny, VMDSenior VeterinarianWe graduated our first resident, Dr. LeonardLaraio, since re-introducing the residencyprogram in 2004. While it was sad to saygoodbye to Dr. Laraio, we were fortunateto be able to welcome Dr. Erica Wilsonfrom Phoenix, Arizona, into the program.Dr. Wilson originally hails from Memphis,Tennessee, where her father was thedirector, now retired, of the Memphis Zoo.In addition to learning quite a lot there, shegained considerable experience workingwith exotics while in a small animal practicein Phoenix.On July 5, 2006, Leeza, a golden-cheekedgibbon gave birth to her second offspring,a male named Leo. Unfortunately, sheagain refused to raise the infant. We triedimmobilizing her and placing the newbornon her chest, but as soon as she recoveredfrom anesthesia and discovered the ruseshe promptly abandoned him again. Leospent his first few weeks of life in a hospitalincubator being bottle fed around the clock.Several staff members took turns takinghim home to continue his care throughoutthe night. Currently, he spends his days inprimates visiting and playing with his sisterLily. In the late afternoon, he returns to thehospital and plays on his jungle gym untilbedtime. He has plenty of human “aunties”to play with, which helps him develop themotor skills he will need as an adult. Hissister Lily’s story was detailed in last year’sannual report. She suffered a severe arminjury which required surgery. To watch hernavigate her home today you would be hardpressed to tell she incurred such a severeinjury. We are very hopeful that in early2007 Leo will live full time at Emerald Forest.Sometimes working at the zoo you have theunique opportunity to see an animal’s lifecome full circle. Spotted hyena Bear wasborn at Denver Zoo on February 25, 1987,and was abandoned by her mother. Shecame to the hospital for hand-rearing whenDr. Kenny was the first Denver Zoo internand Cindy Bickel was the only veterinarytechnician. Dr. Kenny remembers having tobe extremely careful when working aroundBear because hyenas can be very aggressiveright from birth. They are also born with afull set of developed teeth. We all survivedour first encounter and Bear went to live atthe Feline Building. Bear had no medicalproblems until in May of 1995, during aroutine reproductive implant exchange,we noted a large abdominal mass onpalpation. Dr. Robert Taylor from AlamedaEast Veterinary Hospital made a zoo calland assisted us in removing a 1.8 poundleiomyoma, a smooth muscle cell tumor.Bear recovered uneventfully fromthe surgical procedure.