Just What the Doctor Ordered
The Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center (HVMC) is a state-of-the-art animal hospital located at the Safari Park. Considered to be the largest and most sophisticated zoo animal hospital in the world, it has treatment rooms, a central surgery room, intensive care wards, and a special area where X rays can be taken on critters from small to large. There are also individual rooms for animals waiting for treatment or recovering from surgery, with windows or skylights and outdoor sun areas.
The spaciousness of the HVMC allows the medical staff to perform procedures on different animals at the same time. Special mechanical lifts can help get heavier animals up on the table for surgery or exams. There is even a scale built into the floor so a weight can be obtained as the animal walks onto it. In the physical therapy room, a variety of tubs are available to help recovering animals. A gazelle with a broken leg could be buoyantly supported and massaged by circulating water in a whirlpool tub or a recuperating duck might exercise in a large washtub. Bird and reptile patient wards have both indoor and outdoor areas and include heat lamps and ponds. In addition, the reptile area is humidity-controlled and the bird areas have rubber flooring.
There are still a few animals that are just too big for the HVMC, and the veterinarians go to them in the Park’s field exhibits. The veterinarians’ trucks are equipped just like a mobile hospital, with most of the supplies needed to help care for sick or injured animals.
Although the HVMC is not open to visitors, we do offer special guided tours of the facility. Thanks to Paul Harter and other generous donors, the HVMC is “just what the doctor ordered” for the wild creatures in the Park’s care.
