Update: Condor #9601 (a.k.a. " Harry" )
Posted at 11:19 am March 10, 2006 by Valerie StoddardWe received word from Phoenix Zoo late yesterday afternoon that California condor #9601 is responding well to treatment, and his blood lead level has decreased significantly. (See my previous blog.) The day after the blood transfusion he was already stronger and, as mentioned in the previous blog comments, " perkier," which was definitely a good sign!
The emergency transfusion he received last week provided the extra time needed for veterinarians to continue with chelation (pronounced " key-LAY-shun") therapy to remove the lead from his blood. Chelation is a method used to cleanse lead from the bloodstream with an intravenous solution of EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acid), which is an amino acid with the ability to bind itself to metals such as lead, mercury, and calcium. The EDTA enters the bloodstream and attaches itself to metal-ion molecules. Usually within 48 hours, the body excretes these substances through the urine and the process of cleansing begins. This has been the treatment of choice for lead poisoning and other types of metallic poisoning for more than 20 years, not just for condors, but any animal, including humans. The next step for #9601 (a.k.a. " Harry") will be to begin eating and drinking independently.
In the meantime, Harry is getting the best care available at the Phoenix Zoo and veterinarians are optimistic, though he's not totally " out of the woods" just yet. We at HVMC were very pleased to get this encouraging news and be able to share it with all of you!
Valerie Stoddard is the senior administrative assistant at the Wild Animal Park's Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
March 10th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Thank you for the update. I have been wondering how he was. I am very glad to hear that he is doing well. I'm sure your team all feels wonderful that they were able to help.
March 10th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Wow..what a sucess…way to go people..for a job well done..thanks for keeping us posted..malinda
March 10th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
I echo the other folks' congratulations and thanks. I live near Big Sur and keep hoping to see one of these big birds–no luck yet. The life-saving and species-saving work you do is really inspiring.
March 11th, 2006 at 6:40 am
WHAT FAB-U-LOUS NEWS ABOUT HARRY!
I AM SO GLAD THIS IS A SUCESS!
March 11th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Yeah! I'm so happy and relieved to hear Harry is doing better! Thank you for jumping in to help give him the time he needed to get the proper treatment. Tell your peers at Phoenix Zoo that Harry has fans all around the U.S. thanks to the SDZ and HVMC! Keep up the great work.
March 12th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Thanks to all for a job well-done, from the brave soul who found Harry to the vets and staff at both zoos to the personnel who transported the life-saving condor blood to whomever organized and coordinated the entire operation. You all have given 100% and, no matter what the outcome, you make us proud and thankful. Bless you all.
March 12th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Our prayers for 9601 (a.k.a Harry) have been answered. I wanted to see the condors when in Grand Canyon 2004. We couldn't stay for a raptor demonstration. While on our way to the Hearst Castle in 2002, I thought I had met a condor. Very friendly, but my son said it was a turkey vulture. Do they live at Big Sur?
March 13th, 2006 at 4:58 am
Hurray for Harry!!!!! What wonderful news - I'm so happy and relieved. Thanks to everyone at the Phoenix and San Diego zoos for caring so much. You're all incredible!!! Please keep the updates coming — and a big high five to our bird Harry:o)
March 13th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Thank you all for your continued support of the Zoological Society of San Diego! Without it, none of this would be possible and these happy stories would be fewer and farther between. Give yourselves some " kudus," as we like to say here at HVMC. :o)
Marcia, there are turkey vultures in the Big Sur area and they are commonly mistaken for condors. One way to determine if you're meeting a condor is to look for white under-wing patches or numbered-color tags on the side of each wing.
Editor's note: For more information about condor sightings, visit http://cres.sandiegozoo.org/projects/sp_condor_sighting.html
March 14th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
What wonderful news about Harry. I have been so worried about him, and I'm so glad he is progressing well. Thank you for the wonderful work all of you do in caring for these most wonderful creatures. You and all your colleagues are extremely good people, and we are blessed to have you in this world.
March 16th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Greetings! Do you know how Harry is doing this week?
Also, based on the other comments here, should we discontinue naming the condors with NUMBERS, and give them " REAL NAMES" instead?
March 16th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Hi, Cindy, and all of you! The condors from the " earlier" days were mostly numbered. Maybe because people didn't want to get so attached, just in case (we fall in love with animals very easily as it is)? I really can't answer that for sure, though. I can tell you that the condors we have at the Park, and some that have been released, all have names.
We'll get another update on Harry next week, and I'll get the names of all the condors that have them and pass them on to all of you. I'll also try to get profiles on as many as possible, so you can get to know them. They are wonderful. I'll tell you this: all of our animals at the Wild Animal Park have individual medical records that are kept in manila file folders, except the condors: they all get purple file folders because they're so special! :o) Thanks for checking in and I'll follow up on these questions next week.