Black rhino undergoes portable CT scan at Chicago area zoo

A black rhino is recovering from a CT scan that happened at Brookfield Zoo.

BROOKFIELD, Illinois -- A black rhino is recovering from a CT scan that happened at a Chicago area zoo.

The goal is to help her breathe. To move 7-year-old Layla for the procedure would be a major undertaking.

She weighs 2,300 pounds, so she's too big for treatment at the Brookfield Zoo hospital.

Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai, senior staff veterinarian for the Chicago Zoological Society, stabilizes Layla, a 2,300-pound eastern black rhinoceros at Brookfield Zoo.none

The Chicago Zoological Society veterinary staff stabilize Layla, a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros at Brookfield Zoo.none

Layla, a 2,300-pound eastern black rhinoceros at Brookfield Zoo, is lifted by a front-end loader, manned by Greg Wall, an assistant lead groundskeeper,.none

A dedicated team of staff take direction from Dr. Michael Adkesson (right), vice president of clinical medicine for the Chicago Zoological Society.none

Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai, senior staff veterinarian for the Chicago Zoological Society, monitors Layla a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros.none

Chicago Zoological Society’s Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai (left), senior staff veterinarian, and Dr. Michael Adkesson, vice president of clinical medicine, monitor Layla.none

Layla, is monitored by Chicago Zoological Society veterinary staff while she is being moved to a surgical table that can accommodate her weight.none

Carrie Sapienza and Vince Valderrama, senior groundskeepers for the Chicago Zoological Society, help position Layla.none

Layla, a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros is wheeled into Brookfield Zoo's Pachyderm House.none

A portable CT scanner was brought into a habitat for the rhino, and it's believed to be the first time that's been done to an animal of her species.

"The CT scan provided diagnostic results that we could not have otherwise obtained," said Dr. Michael Adkesson, vice president of clinical medicine for CZS, the company which manages the zoo.

"This procedure is an example of our commitment to providing the animals in our care with the most advanced medical treatment available. More importantly, though, the CT scan on Layla has provided us an unparalleled look inside of her skull," adds Adkesson.

Layla was born on October 18, 2010 at Kansas City Zoo and arrived at the Brookfield Zoo in 2012.

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