GiveLocal 757

Going above and beyond with our animal care standards!

GiveLocal 757 has always been a day about community, grassroots support, and pride. This year, we are calling on Virginia Zoo supporters to help us go above and beyond in our commitment to excellence in animal wellbeing. One of the ways our team strives to provide top-notch care is through our Animal Wellness Campus, our state-of-the-art medical and diet facility that serves most of the animals that call the Zoo home. With the funds raised from this campaign, we intend to take this care to the next level by purchasing additional Pet Map II accessories and an upgraded VetScan VS2 – two critical pieces of equipment that allow our veterinary team to provide more in-depth health evaluations. 

The Pet Map II is a multi-parameter monitor that can provide animal vitals such as heart rate, respiratory health metrics, temperature and more with the right accessories. The main benefit is portability allowing veterinary staff to utilize the equipment both in the exam rooms and in the field. This machine is especially ideal for large or dangerous animals who are difficult to move to the Animal Wellness Campus, such as our Malayan tigers, African lions, and Hartmann’s Mountain zebras. The portability also allows for the Pet Map II to be used in voluntary medical training for some species, like the orangutans and siamangs, therefore limiting the need for sedation. 

The VetScan VS2 is a chemistry machine that only requires a small amount of blood to be drawn from an animal to provide the veterinary staff vital information including kidney function, hydration levels, liver function, glucose levels and electrolyte levels. This equipment is vital for the care of our smaller animals, like reptiles, birds, and ambassador animals, who can only safely provide a limited amount of blood for testing. By upgrading our current machine to this enhanced model, we will be able to provide advanced care and gain a more comprehensive understanding of our small-scale residents’ health.