In this April 23, 2018 photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai, senior staff veterinarian for the Chicago Zoological Society, monitors Layla a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros, as she receives a CT scan inside the Zoo's Pachyderm House in Brookfield, Ill. The images from the scan provided diagnostic results that will help determine the best course of action in treating an obstruction in Layla's nasal passageway. (Kelly Tone/ Chicago Zoological Society via AP)
The Associated Press
BROOKFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A rhinoceros at a suburban Chicago zoo has undergone what's believed to be the first CT scan performed on the species. It was no easy task.
Layla is seven and a half years old and 2,300 pounds and lives at Brookfield Zoo.
Zoo officials say the scan was needed to diagnose an obstruction in Layla's nasal passageway that made it difficult for her to breathe.
Because Layla was too large to move inside the zoo's hospital a CT scanner had to be brought to the Pachyderm House.
A front loader was needed to lift the rhino onto the surgical table. About 40 staff members helped with the process and did practice runs with 2,300 pounds of concrete.
The images revealed abnormal tissue near an upper molar. The zoo says Layla is resting comfortably and surgery is planned.
In this April 23, 2018 photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, the Society's veterinary staff stabilize Layla, a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros at Brookfield Zoo, in Brookfield, Ill. Once stabilized, Layla, who weighs 2,300 pounds, received a CT scan in order for veterinary staff to determine the best course of action in treating the animal's obstructed nasal passageway. (Kelly Tone/ Chicago Zoological Society via AP)
The Associated Press
In this April 23, 2018 photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, A dedicated team of staff take direction from Dr. Michael Adkesson, right, vice president of clinical medicine for the Chicago Zoological Society, as they prepare to position Layla, a 2,300-pound eastern black rhinoceros at Brookfield Zoo, onto a mat in preparation for her to be moved to a portable CT scan in Brookfield, Ill. Layla is being treated for an obstruction in her nasal passageway, and the scan will assist veterinarians in determining the best treatment plan for her. (Kelly Tone/ Chicago Zoological Society via AP)
The Associated Press
In this April 23, 2018 photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Layla, a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros is wheeled into Brookfield Zoo's Pachyderm House, where she received, what is believed to be, the first portable CT scan ever performed on this species in Brookfield, Ill. The scan provided diagnostic results that will help determine the best course of action in treating an obstruction in Layla's nasal passageway. (Kelly Tone/ Chicago Zoological Society via AP)
The Associated Press
In this April 23, 2018 photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Carrie Sapienza and Vince Valderrama, senior groundskeepers for the Chicago Zoological Society, help position Layla, a 7½-year-old eastern black rhinoceros at Brookfield Zoo, In Brookfield, Ill., onto a surgical table. The 2,300-pound rhino was then wheeled into the zoo's Pachyderm House where she had a CT scan, which was necessary in order for veterinary staff to determine the best course of action in treating an obstruction in Layla's nasal passageway. (Kelly Tone/ Chicago Zoological Society via AP)
The Associated Press