A database that may change the stakes for zoo and wildlife animals

A database that may change the stakes for zoo and wildlife animals


Veterinary literature abounds with diagnostic images of common animal species. But what if you need images of nontraditional species?

That was the problem zoo veterinarians faced in 2018 when they performed the first-ever CT scan on an eastern black rhinoceros. The scan appeared to show an abnormal sinus mass, but they had nothing to compare it to.

This has long been a problem for zoo vets. But now, the newly launched Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database allows veterinarians, wildlife biologists and others worldwide to share X-rays, MRIs and CT scans of nondomestic animals online.

So far, the database contains 1,000 images from 50 species, but it aims to include 10,000 images in two years. It looks to be a game-changer.

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