Collaborative CT Gives King Kiburi The All Clear
3 weeks ago 
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VET.CT team support vets at London Zoo with live reading of CT images during the silverback gorilla’s full health check.
Kiburi, the 21-year-old patriarch of London Zoo’s western lowland gorilla troop, was recently given a clean bill of health following a meticulously planned health check. The 177kg primate had been under observation after contending with recurrent gastrointestinal issues, leading the Zoo’s expert veterinary team to decide that they needed to take a closer look at him, with the help of a CT scan and both veterinary and human health specialists.
Before his full health check could take place, Kiburi had to be anaesthetised – which was done with an injection in his upper arm. This seemingly simple procedure took months of planning to achieve, with Kiburi taking part in frequent training with zookeepers and veterinary nurses, so that he would offer his arm for the anaesthetic to be administered.
Following a full cardiology examination under anaesthetic, Kiburi was transferred under constant monitoring to a mobile CT scanning unit from Burgess Diagnostics. The scan was live-read by VET.CT’s David Reese, a world-leading exotics radiologist working remotely from his home town of Perth, Australia. The scan was focussed on Kiburi’s abdomen and revealed no obvious cause for concern - a diagnosis supported by doctors from the NHS who specialise in gastrointestinal health and imaging, and provided unique assistance for Kiburi’s procedure.
London Zoo Head of Wildlife Health Services, Amanda Guthrie, said: “We monitor all our animals very closely to ensure they’re getting the best care possible, so when we saw that Kiburi was having stomach issues, we wanted to make sure everything was working as it should.
“Thankfully, the silverback's initial test results have all come back as normal. Kiburi is back with his family at the Zoo’s Gorilla Kingdom habitat – including his two infant daughters, Juno and Venus.
“Having been able to get a closer look at how he’s doing, it’s good to see that these initial results show nothing of concern – and it helps us put together a monitoring plan so we can continue to make sure he feels his best.”
David Reese, radiologist and managing director of VET.CT Asia-Pacific said, “It was a pleasure to work with the ZSL Wildlife Health Services Team planning the exam and assuring everyone's role was clearly defined prior to this procedure, a key to a success. It is truly an honour to work with dedicated veterinary teams and organisations around the world committed to the care of animals - including species that are critically endangered in the wild. The power of technology to connect remote veterinary expertise is key to supporting collaborative care and help ensure the best outcomes for animal patients like Kiburi, wherever they may be.”
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About VET.CT:
Established in 2009 in Cambridge, UK, VET.CT Specialists Ltd. provides specialist clinical services and novel educational strategies for veterinary medicine. A certified B Corp, the company's mission is to make the veterinary world a better place by delivering trusted veterinary knowledge, support and reassurance at the point of need, and is committed to being a force for good in the veterinary industry.
Through its high-quality, collaborative radiology reporting and education services, VET.CT supports clients across the entire veterinary ecosystem, including universities, first opinion practices and referral centres.
Founded by veterinary radiologist Victoria Johnson and independently owned, the company has grown globally with subsidiaries in the USA, Canada and Australia, and over 200 team members, including over 140 board-certified radiologists.
For more information, please visit www.vet-ct.com.
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About ZSL
London Zoo – a ZSL conservation zoo
London Zoo is part of ZSL, a science-driven conservation charity, working to protect and restore wildlife in the UK and around the world. First opened to
the public in 1828, London Zoo works to restore wildlife through vital conservation breeding programmes and inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow. Get closer to nature in one of the world’s most vibrant capital cities. Visit
for more information and to book tickets.
Use of ZSL images and video
Photographs, video or graphics distributed by ZSL (Zoological Society of London) to support this media release may only be used for editorial
reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the persons in the image or facts mentioned in the media release or image caption. Reuse of the picture or video requires further permission from the press office of ZSL.
ZSL
Founded in 1826, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose mission is to promote and
achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Our mission is realised through our ground-breaking science, our active conservation projects in more than 50 countries and our two Zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. For more information
visit www.zsl.org
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