One of Healesville Sanctuary’s resident Kangaroos has a particularly important routine, making sure to stay calm when undergoing her heart check, the key to an accurate reading.
Eight-year-old Merle has a heart murmur that requires regular monitoring. Usually this would involve an anaesthetic, however her keepers and vet team have spent months working with Merle so that she now hops up to them and calmly allows a stethoscope to be placed on her chest.
Merle is offered peanut butter as a reward when she approaches her keeper and vet.
Sanctuary Veterinarian Meg Curnick said it is important that Merle has complete choice and control over monitoring her health.
“She can choose not to come over, or to move away,” Dr Curnick said. “This means that she is calm and comfortable with the procedure at all stages, which is particularly important when evaluating the heart.
“Merle’s heart murmur is very minor and doesn’t seem to be causing any clinical problems. However, these things can worsen over time, so monthly checks allow us to hear if the murmur is becoming louder, thereby letting us know when it is time for further treatment.”
Heart murmurs occur when the flow of blood through the heart is unusually turbulent. There can be several causes, but the most likely is a valve in the heart is not closing properly.
While this healthcare training may look easy, it has been refined over many months, and requires great two-way communication throughout the entire process. Keepers watch closely to ensure the Kangaroo has a comfortable body position that avoids leaning, only then does the examination begin.
Training experts at Healesville Sanctuary are continually exploring voluntary health check possibilities across a variety of species.
Zoos Victoria and Healesville Sanctuary visitors are reminded that all tickets must be pre-booked online at zoo.org.au. Zoos Victoria Members no longer need to book but are required to scan their Membership card at entry.
