Joburg Zoo pleads: Help us to help sick animals

24 March 2017

 

The Johannesburg Zoo has appealed to the public, business community and the medical fraternity to donate specialised veterinary and non-veterinary equipment to enhance operations at its newly revamped animal hospital.

 

The new-look veterinary hospital, refurbished at a cost of R4.8-million, was launched by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba a week ago.

The facility does not only attend to the healthcare needs of 3 076 animal species housed at the zoo but it also assists local and international wildlife in need or in transit.

The revamp included the much-needed refurbishment of the operating theatre for big animals, the construction of an adjoining operating theatre with a public observation area, the provision of a specialised doorway to reduce the risk of animals escaping during treatment and the overall aesthetic enhancement of the facility.

“Not only does the revamp enhance the scope of the services offered at the hospital but it also further entrenches it as a leader in conservation research and education,” the MMC said at the launch.

She added, however, that to ensure the City of Johannesburg continued to strive to deliver and provide animals with the best veterinary care and treatment available, the hospital would need assistance with specialised equipment.

Ioanna Karamitsos, the zoo’s fundraiser, said staff had drawn up a comprehensive wish list of veterinary and non-veterinary equipment for everyday use.

“We’re appealing to anyone who wishes to enhance our operations to donate or sponsor items on our wish list,” said Karamitsos.

Items on the wish list include:

• A portable and rechargeable Dremmel;

• A small rechargeable drill;

• A small rechargeable screw driver;

• Three pressure washers for the quarantine, postmortem and incinerator rooms;

• Three two-litre humidifiers; 

• Three “Big Jim”-type lockable toolboxes on wheels for medicines, supplies and equipment during field work;

• A small handheld angle grinder for the postmortem room;

• Two small stepladders for small wards;

• Three handheld vacuum cleaners; 

• Fifty stainless steel and ceramic bowls;

• Butchers’ knives and sharpening equipment for the postmortem room;

• A 60-litre camping fridge;

• A dishwasher for the animals’ food and water bowls;

• Twenty small panel heaters;About 200m² of woven rubber matting to prevent animals slipping in the large enclosures;

• Six small, six medium and six large pet transport kennels or caddies for small mammals;

• Three general soft-tissue surgical kits;

• Two orthopaedic surgical kits;

• Three large animal surgical kits;

• Two-eye surgery kits;

• Small and large machine-washable heating pads for birds and reptiles;

• Two centrifuge machines;

• A 20 000-litre postmortem hall fridge;

• Four air purifiers;

• Good quality laryngoscope and opthalmo/orthoscope;

• A surgical suction machine;

• Oster clippers with extra blades, one for field work;

• X-ray positioning sponges/mattresses

• Digital X-ray plates;

• Three or more stethoscopes and a paediatric stethoscope;

• Twenty digital thermometers and 10 second-reading or rectal/oral thermometers

• C-arm portable and a fixed fluoroscopy machine;

• Thirty infra-red heat lamps and 30 UV lamps and fittings;

• A wireless portable X-ray machine;

• A portable ultrasound machine;

• A blood chemistry machine for the lab and handheld scans for field use;

• Two rechargeable Pulseoximeters; a portable ECG monitor and a portable blood pressure monitor or a combination monitor for the three parameters; and

• Five back-up paramedic type back-packs.

“Something we have always needed but never got is a kombi or minivan that we can use as an animal ambulance,” said Karamitsos.

Any donor or sponsor interested in assisting the zoo hospital is urged to contact Karamitsos on (011) 646-2000 ext. 2242 or via email at Ioanna.Karamitsos@jhbcityparks.com