This Zoo Vet Wants to Start a Blood Bank
When the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe, it wasn’t just humans who fell ill. Zoo animals, from tigers to gorillas, were among the unexpected victims. For Dr. Lily Parkinson, an emergency and critical care veterinarian at the University of Georgia, the pandemic brought an unusual and urgent challenge: snow leopards developing severe anemia, a dangerous shortage of red blood cells.
Faced with critically ill animals and no established system to help them, zoos began improvising. Healthy snow leopards were sedated, their blood carefully drawn, and sent to Parkinson, who was already in the midst of research on blood types in large wild cats. Suddenly, her lab became a lifeline for institutions desperate to save their animals.
The problem isn’t just one of logistics. Exotic animals present a complex puzzle: their blood types, compatibility, and reactions to transfusions are largely unstudied. Every transfusion carries risk. A mismatch could be fatal, and the window to act in a crisis is often hours, not days.
Parkinson’s vision is bold: a specialized blood bank for zoos and aquariums, stocked with donor blood from multiple species, tested and typed for compatibility. Such a system could revolutionize care for captive animals, allowing veterinarians to respond to life-threatening anemia, trauma, or surgery with the same immediacy as human medicine.
Creating a blood bank for zoos, however, is no small feat. It requires collaboration between institutions, rigorous testing protocols, and careful monitoring of donors. Transporting blood safely between facilities adds another layer of complexity, as does maintaining a cold chain suitable for each species. Despite the challenges, Parkinson is undeterred, driven by both the science and the urgency of the need.
Her work underscores a larger truth about veterinary care for exotic species: while the animals may live in captivity, the challenges they face are unique, and the solutions often require creativity, courage, and persistence. Parkinson’s blood bank initiative could set a precedent, offering a blueprint for veterinary care that is proactive, systematic, and life-saving.
As she continues her research and outreach to zoos nationwide, the hope is clear: one day, no snow leopard—or any exotic animal—will have to risk their life simply because the right blood wasn’t available.
Original coverage: New York Times
