Portable CT scanner helps wildlife conservation charity’s vets investigate monkey business

Eight-year-old Ishin, one of the Japanese macaques here at Highland Wildlife Park, has undergone a CT scan after experiencing frequent nosebleeds.

The scan was made possible thanks to the support of Burgess Diagnostics, who provided a mobile scanner and technician to work alongside the expert RZSS veterinary team. Mobile CT scanners are especially valuable in rural settings like the Cairngorms, allowing animals to receive specialist care without the stress of long-distance travel.

The detailed images will help the team investigate the cause of Ishin’s symptoms and decide on the best next steps for his care.

Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, live in large troops with a strict hierarchy. They are the most northerly living non-human primates and are famous for their thick fur, which helps them cope with freezing winters. They are highly intelligent, social animals with complex relationships and behaviours that make them fascinating to observe. We're home to a sizeable troop, which you can see from near our information centre.