Animal Health & Nutrition

ANIMAL HEALTH CENTER

Manages the medical care, preventive health and nutrition programs of the entire animal population.

The Animal Health Center (AHC) staff’s goal is to improve animals’ lives by keeping them healthy and active.

The focus is preventive medicine to avoid illness and ensure healthy habitats and environments. Many animals are housed throughout the year -- either in quarantine or for treatment

As a renowned zoological medicine training hospital, AHC programs include a 1-month externship for fourth-year veterinary students and a 3-year Zoological Medicine Residency, which trains veterinarians in the zoo and exotic animal medicine field.

Three clinical medicine residents rotate annually for training at MCZ, through the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Receives, evaluates and stores most of the animal food/supplies before daily delivery to animal areas

SUPPORT OPERATIONS

ANIMAL RECORDS

AZA-accredited zoos keep up-to-date records for each animal, from birth to death. The registrar manages the database, overseeing the sharing and use of the data.

Information observed daily by the animal care staff is recorded in an electronic database, the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), the largest global animal management network. Thousands of entries are added annually to the database’s 10 million+ animals.

LIBRARY & ARCHIVE

The research Library (books and academic/scientific periodicals) and Archive (preserved materials crucial to the history of our Zoo and U.S. zoos), provide information resources to Zoo staff, the Zoological Society staff, Zoo Pride volunteers and the public.

2004