Cohort of Zoos, Aquariums Launch First National Database of Animal Diagnostic Images to Advance Veterinary Medicine in Zoological Institutions
The “Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database” Aims to Break Boundaries of Understanding the Unique Anatomy of Species from Rhinos to Dolphins
CHICAGO – Seven zoos and aquariums across the country have come together to create a pioneering digital repository of diagnostic images, such as radiographs, CT scans and MRIs, to solve an ongoing challenge for zoological veterinarians and advance the veterinary field. Unveiled for the first time today, the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database (ZARD) will provide veterinarians and radiologists with new, previously scarce reference material for scans on animals from rhinos to dolphins. It will not only support zoos and aquariums in providing the highest standard of veterinary care and animal welfare, but also offer a resource for professionals studying animals in the wild.
The database was conceived in 2021 by leading zoological institutions across the U.S., including Brookfield Zoo Chicago, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, Saint Louis Zoo, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. It is also supported by board-certified radiologists from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
The project was first inspired by a unique veterinary case for a critically endangered eastern black rhinoceros named Layla at Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2017. Layla had developed a growth in her sinus that obstructed her airway and made breathing difficult. To help prescribe treatment, Layla’s veterinary team performed a computed tomography (CT) scan. As the first living adult rhino to receive a CT scan, Layla’s veterinarians and radiologists had limited reference material to see what “normal” looks like for her species. They needed to rely on imaging of deceased rhinos from museums, which do not show soft tissue such as muscles and blood vessels. The experts on the case quickly identified the need for more comprehensive reference material for Layla’s species and beyond.
“Layla’s case shined a large spotlight on a challenge that zoological veterinarians and radiologists face when diagnosing non-domestic species like rhinos,” said Dr. Michael Adkesson, president and CEO of Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the project’s principal investigator. “Working with experts across the country, we’re excited to provide a solution to that challenge with the unveiling of the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database. Undoubtedly, this new resource will be a game-changer for the zoological community and significantly improve our ability to diagnose and treat the animals in our care."
The ZARD will be accessible through a web-based user portal for zoo and wildlife professionals only, where users can search for images based on species, age, sex, and body part. It will feature over 10,000 diagnostic images from 500 different species that are common across zoos and aquariums or under threat of extinction. Each species will be represented by an equal distribution of male and female animals at a range of ages, and diagnostic images will be made anonymous to protect patient identities. Currently 1,000 images from 50 species are included, and the ZARD team expects to reach its target goal of 10,000 images within the next 1-2 years. The team is also planning for the next phase of the database, which would focus on pathology seen on diagnostic image studies within zoological species.
In addition to filling gaps in knowledge about the healthy anatomies of zoological species, the database helps address limited availability of radiologists with the skillset to read diagnostic images for the hundreds of species in zoological care. All images added to the ZARD will be reviewed by board-certified veterinary radiologists from the Zoo, Exotic, Wildlife Diagnostic Imaging Society of The American College of Veterinary Radiology. These specialists will ensure that the images depict normal anatomical structures, providing a reliable reference for veterinary professionals.
“Currently there is no textbook to reference to understand the unique anatomies of zoological animals, leaving few radiologists with the experience to confidently assess radiographs," said Dr. Eric Hostnik, the project’s lead radiologist and associate professor of veterinary radiology at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “This database will help address the shortage of trained radiologists for these purposes and provide an enormous teaching tool for aspiring veterinarians specializing in zoological medicine and radiology.”
Further, the knowledge gained from the ZARD aims to contribute to the conservation of endangered species globally and advance scientific discovery of wildlife. For example, field research biologists studying imperiled populations in the wild can conduct remote diagnostic scans on wild animals, such as Blanding’s turtles, and use the database as reference to understand the presence of diseases or malformations that might impact animals’ survival.
“Creation of the on-line Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database (ZARD) will provide, for the first time, a sophisticated imaging resource accessible to everyone,” said Dr. Paul Calle, chief veterinarian emeritus at Wildlife Conservation Society, based at the Bronx Zoo. “The broad availability of this information will facilitate global advances in the care, health, and welfare of all zoo, aquarium, and wildlife species.”
“Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment is proud to collaborate with other AZA institutions to support the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database. The diversity of species and our extensive wellness programs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® and The Seas with Nemo & Friends ® allow for significant contributions to the database. We are grateful the Chicago Zoological Society has included us as an innovative zoo and aquarium health partner,” said Dr. Deidre Fontenot, veterinarian at Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment.
“Advanced diagnostic imaging is a game-changer in zoological medicine, allowing veterinarians to find more and do more in providing the best care possible for our patients,” said Dr. Jimmy Johnson, senior director of animal health at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. “We are humbled to be a part of this transformative collaboration providing a broad resource to advance the care and conservation of zoo, aquarium, and wildlife species worldwide.”
The project was made possible in-part by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Grant MG-249218-OMS-21) and by additional funding from Brookfield Zoo Chicago, which houses and will maintain the database long-term.
For more information about the ZARD, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org/ZARD.
Visuals: Photos related to the project and photo captions are available for download here: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/tLJ5CP1dbc. (Note: proper photo credit is included in photo captions)
# # #
About Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Celebrating 90 years as a global leader in animal well-being and conservation, Brookfield Zoo Chicago inspires conservation leadership by igniting emotional connections for people with wildlife and nature, locally and globally. The Zoo is a private nonprofit organization that operates on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species, including many of Earth’s most endangered. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and ArbNet. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org.
About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science expertise and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the Alliance reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and virtually in 150 countries through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming in children’s hospitals in 14 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible.
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS combines the power of its zoos and an aquarium in New York City and a Global Conservation Program in more than 50 countries to achieve its mission to save wildlife and wild places. WCS runs the world’s largest conservation field program, protecting more than 50 percent of Earth’s known biodiversity; in partnership with governments, Indigenous People, Local Communities, and the private sector. It’s four zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium ) welcome more than 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring generations to care for nature. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org. Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: +1 (347) 840-1242. Listen to the WCS Wild Audio podcast HERE.
About Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment
Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment (ASE) is comprised of nearly 1,000 Cast Members including professionals in the fields of science, conservation, education, nutrition, animal husbandry and animal health. ASE Cast Members can be found globally including Florida, California, Hawaii and The Bahamas. Most of the ASE team resides at Walt Disney World Resort, delivering the absolute best animal care to more than 300 species and 5,000 animals across Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT and Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), ASE Cast have collaborated with renowned experts to help increase populations of endangered and threatened species.
About Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is Saving Wildlife Together in Colorado and around the world, through collaboration among its expert staff, volunteers, community, and conservation partners. For 128 years, its 80-acre campus in Denver’s City Park has been an enchanting urban field station, where 2,500+ wonderful animals of 500+ species serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts all over the world. Beyond City Park, Denver Zoo’s footprint is expanding with the 570-acre Lembke Family Preserve, which will allow Denver Zoo to dramatically evolve both its animal care and conservation breeding practices. The award-winning Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital welcomes guests into the advanced veterinary care provided to Denver Zoo’s animals, and its award-winning exhibits and education and outreach programs spark curiosity for learners of all ages throughout metropolitan Denver. In addition, Denver Zoo’s global Field Conservation and Emergency Wildlife Response teams have worked tirelessly for more than two decades to protect species threatened by human encroachment, habitat loss and catastrophic events. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), is American Humane CertifiedTM, and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
About Saint Louis Zoo
Home to over 16,000 animals, representing nearly 500 species, the Saint Louis Zoo is recognized worldwide for its innovative approaches to animal care and management, wildlife conservation, research and education. One of the few free zoos in the nation, the Saint Louis Zoo is the most-visited attraction in the region. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Saint Louis Zoo is part of an elite group of institutions that meet the highest standards in animal care as well as provide fun, safe and educational family experiences. The Saint Louis Zoo and other AZA-accredited institutions collectively dedicate millions of dollars annually to support scientific research, conservation and education programs. For more information, visit stlzoo.org.
About The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Ranked third in the nation and a top-five ranked veterinary college for nearly two decades, Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1885, is one of the nation's oldest and largest veterinary colleges. Admitting up to 165 veterinary students per class and boasting a strong alumni presence across all 50 states and 40 countries, the college is known for its world-renowned history and tradition of excellence and innovation in education, research, outreach, and patient care programs. Its Veterinary Health System is the only academic comprehensive tertiary referral center in the state and region, providing cutting-edge care to over 80,000 canine, feline, equine, and farm animal patients annually in its six hospitals and farms across Ohio. One of the few campuses in the country where seven health sciences colleges coexist on one university campus, veterinary medicine students, researchers, and faculty collaborate closely with partners in Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, and Public Health. The college offers a comprehensive Veterinary and Comparative Medicine graduate program and a unique master’s degree in Veterinary Public Health in partnership with the College of Public Health. Learn more at http://vet.osu.edu.