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MEDICAL
ADVANCEMENTS: Layla
At the end of 2017, animal care staff noticed that Layla comprised of Society veterinarians and two board-certified
Rhinoceros was having trouble breathing. Rhinos are obligate surgeons from North Carolina State University’s College of
nasal breathers, meaning it is difficult for them to breathe Veterinary Medicine with extensive knowledge related to
through their mouth for long periods of time, which makes rhinoceroses’ skulls—abnormal tissue was identified in
any kind of nasal obstruction potentially very dangerous. Layla’s nasal passageway. As a result, Layla received
Chicago Zoological Society staff jumped into action, and in medication and staff performed several procedures to
the journey to save Layla’s life, 2018 was filled with many remove the abnormal tissue.
groundbreaking firsts. Let’s take a closer look at this year and
the incredible care that Layla received. April 2018: While surgery improved Layla’s comfort
levels, the problem was not entirely resolved, and staff realized
January 2018: Layla underwent surgery after being they needed to get a closer look. On April 19, Layla received
officially diagnosed with obstructive sinusitis. During this the first CT (computed tomography) scan ever performed on
surgery—which was performed by a team of surgeons an adult eastern black rhinoceros. She received the scan right
28 GATEWAYS | 2018 IMPACT REPORT
