|
|
It's a Geriatric Jungle Out There
By Lisa Van Slett and Megan Lumpkin, Keepers
Dallas Zoo, Dallas, TX
The Dallas Zoo knows a thing or two about caring for geriatric animals. Over the years we have housed the oldest representatives of several species. These individuals become famous across the zoo community and are known by name to regular zoo patrons. Parents bring their children to see the same animals they saw when they were younger and watch them grow and age over the years. Many times during keeper talks, people approach and tell stories they remember about specific animals from years ago.
Technology and experience have helped animals live much longer in captivity than ever before. Along with age comes a different type of care from the keepers, challenging management decisions from supervisors, and endless research and experiments from the veterinary staff. Zoos are constantly finding themselves in situations they have never been in before and are forced to find new and innovative ways to deal with the animals. Having cared for so many aging individuals with medical needs, our veterinary department has developed relationships with a number of different specialists around the Dallas area that they are able to call on when needed.
It may appear that there are no boundaries for helping geriatric animals in zoos. The Dallas Zoo has done everything from developing physical therapy programs to treat the okapi (Okapi johnstoni) “Fons” [25], performing cataract surgery for gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) “Timbo” [46], and a CT scan for spider monkey (Ateles geofforyi) “Pet” [49]. As examples of special care given, keepers have found extra heaters for colder nights, laid down thicker substrate to provide traction in stalls and transfer lanes, cooked food for those with less teeth, and placed forage in more “obvious” places for elderly animals that have a hard time seeing or getting around.
Looking back through records there are two geriatric problems that appear to be prevalent in primates: runny noses and constipation. Keepers develop individual logs for these animals to monitor behavior, mobility, feces/urine, food/water and medicines. A co-worker of mine once said she did not know if she was working in a zoo or a nursing home, as it sometimes can feel that way.
Many animals succumb to diseases of the joints, bones, and muscles. Arthritis and spondylosis become common in all species. HylamotionÆ, Missing LinkÆ, CosequinÆ, CarprofenÆ and GlycoflexÆ are all medicines that become part of a daily routine for older joints and muscles. Medicine is hidden in baby food, oatmeal, or sandwiches for picky eaters, and grain is softened for those with less teeth. Strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla EnsureÆ are all made available to the elderly primates according to their taste preference. Hoofstock that start to lose weight due to age are given extra browse and supplemental grain. Keepers have built ramps and steps to help avoid trip hazards for old hoofstock that don’t pick their feet up as high while walking anymore or primates that need the extra boost over the shift door and can’t jump anymore. Night keepers spend a large portion of their shifts doing extra checks on the older animals and medicating throughout the night.
One of our most famous elderly individuals is known worldwide for being one of the oldest gorillas on record. “Jenny” just died in May 2008 at the amazing age of 55. She touched so many people’s lives that, when the zoo hosted her 55th birthday party, people from all over came to show their love and support. Even the “human” doctors who performed a surgery on her in the 1970’s, one of them in his 90’s, showed up and were still talking about how they once got to work on a gorilla. One of the amazing things about “Jenny” is that she did not require a lot of extra care or any medications into her old age. Although she was 55, she was generally healthy and went on exhibit daily. She was able to live out her life to the end with the same regular care given to the younger gorillas.
Bon Bon, 50 years old, love shoes and wood wool nests (Photo courtesy of the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas Zoological Society)
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) “Toby” 49 and “Bon Bon” 50 also have not required a lot of medical attention in their older years. “Toby” remained the dominant male until the day he suffered a stroke on exhibit a few years ago. “Bon Bon” is now a grandmother and still in good health but is an interesting case. She is a product of the way zoos used to be designed and a creature of unbreakable habit. Although “Bon Bon” has had access to a one-acre natural habitat for over 12 years, she has never ventured out of the transfer chute past the concrete patio onto the grass. Before the current exhibit was built, the 3.5 chimps lived in more of a 1960’s, unnatural exhibit. When construction was finished, keepers and other chimps from the group tried to convince her to go onto the grass, but still to this day she has never stepped beyond the patio. Staff gave up actively trying to coax her out after about six months and still just leave the chute open. You will see other chimps coming and going to visit her throughout the day.
Rena, 51 years old, January 2009, deemed the happiest spider monkey in the world (Photo courtesy of the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas Zoological Society)
Another group famous at the Dallas Zoo are the three monkeys that have become known as “The Golden Girls”. This is a group of three black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi): “Carmen” [47], “Pet” [49], and “Rena” [51]. “Rena” is one year shy of being the oldest spider monkey on record. Sadly, the group is down to “Rena” and “Pet” after losing our beloved “Carmen” in November 2008. “Carmen” was a favorite zoo-wide and is known by people from other zoos from an AAZK conference video when she was seen expertly throwing ..
Want to read the rest of this article and the rest of the great articles on caring for geriatric animals in zoos? For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum. AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK.
|
