Animal Health Care Centers/Hospitals

[MKEbonoboluv]

Hi
I am looking to connect with those Zoos and legitimate Sanctuaries that have animal hospitals or animal health centers that allow their visitors to watch procedures and surgeries. I am part of a program at our local zoo (Milwaukee County Zoo) where our animal health care center learning zone is open to the public. The public can watch medical procedures from April to the first heavy snow of winter in our learning zone by engaging with trained Animal Ambassadors (volunteers not paid staff) who explain the procedure, impart knowledge about the animal and promote our conservation messages (depending on the animal).

I know of few North American zoos that do allow the public to watch procedures but it is not clear if the have interpreters (paid staff or volunteers) but we are trying to compile a list of other zoos who have similar programs to ours.
Jody

 

[Chlidonias]

Worldwide or just in North America?

Wellington Zoo in New Zealand has a visitor-viewable hospital.

 

[MKEbonoboluv]

Worldwide or just in North America?

Wellington Zoo in New Zealand has a visitor-viewable hospital.

Worldwide is great. Do you have interpreters to let the public know what is going on? Do you have procedures every day and if not how does the public know when there is a procedure? Thank you for replying

 

[Chlidonias]

Worldwide is great. Do you have interpreters to let the public know what is going on? Do you have procedures every day and if not how does the public know when there is a procedure? Thank you for replying

Anything happening on the day is posted at the entrance to the zoo, and also outside the hospital itself. There is a seating area outside the "operating room", and the staff have mikes. The photos below are from 2011 but show this.

 

[snowleopard]

There are a number of zoos that have animal hospitals on the grounds that allow for visitors to watch procedures. Usually there will be a sign with details about what it is happening, or in occasional cases there will be a volunteer/docent there explaining what's going on. There are dozens of examples of these buildings in the U.S. and here's a few of my photos.

Living Desert Zoo in California has a major complex with multiple rooms:

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo has windows for the public to peer into:

World Bird Sanctuary has public viewing areas as well.

Molina Animal Care Center at Aquarium of the Pacific:

Animal Care Center at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: