Rhino Time

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it to the Potter Park Zoo this week to see them work on the Black Rhino ("Ebony") with Brielle arriving ahead of schedule and all. But I was able to head over there for a few hours and it was really a treat. A while back the keepers and vet at the zoo had noticed that she was limping on her rear left leg. A bone infection (osteomyelitis) was suspected. Since it is not often that a Rhino is put under anesthesia many other exams were done as well (reproductive, eye, etc.). The police were on hand for "Rhino Control" in case she were to escape and the fire department was there to lend the jaws of life to lift her up on the truck scale (2,500 pounds thank you very much). There were 10 vets there and it was crazy to see everyone scurrying around to focus on their particular body system. Everyone there was required to wear gloves since Etorphine (and close cousin of Morphine but about 3000 times more powerful and can be absorbed through the skin) was used to knock her down. Click here for a write up in the newspaper.