This week, it was all eyes on one (or more accurately four) of the Safari Zoo’s newest big cat arrivals.
For the Canada Lynx brothers Saguenay, Luna, Logan and Lowe, it was time to get their vaccinations.
Yes, you heard it right.
Canada Lynx, as well as the Tigers, Lions, Snow Leopards and Jaguars here at the Safari Zoo have regular vaccinations - just like your pet house cats do!
The vaccinations are administered to protect them against feline panleukopenia and feline leukaemia.
The vaccinations also protect the big cats against respiratory diseases caused by feline rhinotracheitis virus, feline calicivirus and feline Chlamydophila felis.
This is all technical speak for keeping our big cats healthy and in tip top condition.
So, under normal circumstances, we’d walk into the vet with our pet cat in a cat carrier.
We would then pop them on the table and whilst they may not be so keen – a quick jab is all that they need and they’re all done and good to go.
This then leads us to the question, just how do you vaccinate a Lynx!?
As the Lynx brothers arrived recently, their vaccination schedule is not in sync with the rest of the feline residents.
The Mail readers may remember the Big Cat vaccinations earlier this year where we administered the vaccines via blow dart.
This time, it was a much more hands on process.
Zoo Consultant vet Harvey and Kim and Michael from our Animal Management team, secured each of the boys with a catch net and administered the vaccines by hand!
Last week we spoke about Chevelle and Scooter, who were meeting in their shared outdoor enclosure for the first time.
The pair are continuing to get on well and have started to spend their time a lot closer together.
They both seem to be enjoying having company from another lion.
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