At the Animal Park, our mission to provide the best care for our residents often takes us on unexpected journeys. Recently, our beloved five-year-old Kabaka Lion took one such journey himself—a testament to our community’s generosity, to veterinary skill, and to high-tech advancements in animal care.
Kabaka, who lives with his mother, Naomi, and his two brothers, Jabari and Omot, is known for his playful and spirited nature.
Like all young lions, the brothers enjoy roughhousing, which is an important part of their social interactions. During a particularly lively playtime, though, Kabaka ended up with a sore jaw. To determine the extent of any injury and ensure the best treatment, our veterinarians advised that he needed advanced imaging.
So … where do you make an appointment for a big-cat (500-pounds-plus big) CAT scan? With our long-time partners at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.
Thanks to our supporters and a special donation in memory of Del Pearcy, Kabaka was able to travel to Raleigh in style, with a new, state-of-the-art animal movement trailer. Its smart ventilation system—for optimal airflow and temperature regulation—ensures safety and comfort for our big cats during transit.
After his smooth road trip, Kabaka was carefully anesthetized and veterinary staff and students from the dental and exotics teams conducted a thorough examination and CAT imaging of his jaw. The results were good news: enlarged salivary glands rather than a more severe jaw injury. The veterinary team proposed a non-invasive treatment plan, which is already helping Kabaka to feel his best.
