Vets use bizarre trick to keep wildlife park’s penguins still for X-rays
VETS are being flipping clever by popping traffic cones over penguins — to keep them still for X-rays.
The novel approach has resulted in perfect images.
Ageing birds have to be X-rayed to check their joints for stiffness or arthritis.
Vets at Curraghs Wildlife Park on the Isle of Man adopted the cone idea for their Humboldt penguins.
General manager Kathleen Graham said: “Our vets suggested using a traffic cone after seeing a post from another zoo that used the same method.
“So it’s not an original idea, but none the less a good one.
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“It does save the stress, extra risk and time of an anaesthesia, so an imaginative way to use a cone for animal welfare advancement.”
Kathleen then added: “We are glad to report after x-rays of our older penguins, they are still doing well, health check ups as we get older are important.
“By X-ray we can assess how their joints are doing and if any medication is needed.
“Thanks to Anna and Jakub our vets for coming up with a great way of making the process stress free by using a traffic cone to keep them still without the need of an aesthetic.”
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