A 109-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise had advanced medical scans after keepers at an Australian zoo noticed neck swelling and breathing changes.<\/p>\n
The 298-pound reptile, Esmerelda, was transported from Taronga Zoo Sydney to a specialist animal hospital in North Ryde for a CT scan and endoscopy.<\/p>\n
Preliminary results revealed part of her food pipe had expanded, slowing digestion, with experts now developing a targeted care plan.<\/p>\n
A 109-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise was transported from Taronga Zoo Sydney to a specialist animal hospital due to neck swelling and breathing changes. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
Preliminary results showed part of Esmerelda\u2019s food pipe had expanded, slowing digestion. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
She has since returned to Taronga and is resting comfortably under close veterinary supervision.<\/p>\n
Last week, Esmerelda \u2014 Taronga Zoo Sydney\u2019s oldest resident \u2014 took a rare trip off-site for a comprehensive medical checkup.<\/p>\n
Esmerelda was transported to the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in North Ryde for a specialized endoscopy and CT scan.<\/p>\n
The Aldabra giant tortoise was accompanied by Taronga\u2019s veterinary and reptile staff after keepers spotted swelling on her neck.<\/p>\n
Esmerelda was transported to the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in North Ryde for a specialized endoscopy and CT scan. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
Esmerelda being taken to a medical checkup. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
Her caregivers had also noticed subtle changes in her eating habits and breathing, prompting further investigation.<\/p>\n
At SASH, veterinarians employed advanced imaging technology to take a closer look at Esmerelda\u2019s internal systems.<\/p>\n
Using a CT scanner, which produces detailed three-dimensional images, and a small camera known as an endoscope, the team examined her throat, esophagus, and airways for signs of illness.<\/p>\n
Veterinarians used advanced imaging technology to take a closer look at Esmerelda\u2019s internal systems. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
The minimally invasive procedures allowed a thorough internal check without the need for surgery.<\/p>\n
The examination was led by Taronga Veterinarian Dr. Kresen Pillay, who was joined by experts in imaging, medicine, and anesthesia from SASH.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven Esmerelda\u2019s remarkable age, proactive and preventative health care is essential,\u201d Dr. Pillay said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAldabra Giant Tortoises are an incredibly resilient species, but like any ageing animal, they can develop conditions that require detailed diagnostic imaging.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CT scan and endoscopy provide us with invaluable information to guide her ongoing treatment plan,\u201d Dr. Pillay said, the scan examining her throat, esophagus, and airways. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
Dr. Pillay added: \u201cThe CT scan and endoscopy provide us with invaluable information to guide her ongoing treatment plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Transporting a nearly 300-pound tortoise is no small undertaking.<\/p>\n
The zoo\u2019s team carefully developed a plan for her journey, using a specially designed support sling and monitoring her comfort throughout.<\/p>\n
Esmerelda was lightly sedated and placed under general anesthesia so the scans could be safely completed. Taronga Zoo Sydney \/ SWNS<\/p>\n
Esmerelda was lightly sedated to keep her calm, then placed under general anesthesia so the scans could be safely completed.<\/p>\n
Preliminary results revealed that a section of Esmerelda\u2019s food pipe had expanded, slowing how food moves through her system.<\/p>\n
While specialists continue analyzing the findings, the early insights will help formulate a targeted care plan aimed at improving her digestion and overall health.<\/p>\n
After her visit, Esmerelda was transported back to Taronga, where she is reportedly resting comfortably.<\/p>\n
Her dedicated keepers continue to monitor her recovery and ensure she\u2019s receiving the best possible care.<\/p>\n
Aldabra giant tortoises, native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, rank among the planet\u2019s longest-living species.<\/p>\n
Some have been documented living well past 150 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A 109-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise had advanced medical scans after keepers at an Australian zoo noticed neck swelling…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":504321,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[1147,1246,1493,79,201,30519],"class_list":["post-504320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-animals","tag-australia","tag-hospital","tag-science","tag-wildlife","tag-zoos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=504320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/504321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=504320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=504320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=504320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}