00:00Today, we're going to meet the oldest and most distinguished member here at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan, and I am very excited.
00:08Now, I don't want to ruin the surprise, so let's give you a couple of hints and we'll see if we can figure out who it is.
00:13He's in his 80s, he's over 575 pounds, and he loves neck scratches.
00:20Any ideas who it might be?
00:22Allow me to introduce Al.
00:24Al is an Aldabra tortoise, and although being in his 80s, it may sound like he's getting into his golden years, he still has quite a bit of life left in him.
00:36Tortoises are some of the longest-lived animals in the entire animal kingdom, with some individuals living well over 100 years.
00:44Al arrived at the Binder Park Zoo in 1984, which means he has lived at this facility longer than any other animal in their care.
00:53But a few months ago, Al's keepers noticed a difference in his behavior.
00:57He was becoming less active, keeping to himself, and becoming disinterested in food.
01:02They knew something was up.
01:04But just by looking at the outside of his foot, it was difficult for the doctor to know what was going on on the inside.
01:11For that, they would need a CT scan.
01:13Using special x-ray equipment, doctors can produce a picture of what it looks like underneath that thick skin.
01:19This would give them a good look at everything, from bones to organs, tissues, and even his blood vessels.
01:27At over 575 pounds, it can be an all-day affair just to get from one side of his exhibit to the other.
01:33So imagine how difficult a trip to the doctor could be.
01:36And at his size, he needs special equipment that most suits just don't have.
01:40Since there were no CT scanners in the local area that could accommodate Al's large size and weight,
01:48he and the veterinarian staff would have to travel to get to one.
01:51But it is no small feat moving this giant tortoise.
01:55It took a specially made crate and a forklift, in combination with 200 miles of driving,
02:01for him to reach his final destination, the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois,
02:06where they have a CT scanner large enough to fit his enormous shell.
02:11Since you can't explain to a tortoise that they need to stay still during a CT,
02:16doctors anesthetized Al for the procedure.
02:18It took a large team effort to get him into place, and soon he was ready for his close-up,
02:24just barely squeezing through.
02:26It was quite the journey to get there, but it was all worth it,
02:30as this scan was helpful to know exactly what was going on in Al's foot.
02:34Now with this new information, his doctor could move forward with his treatment.
02:38Now safely back at his home in Michigan, the zoo staff will have to continue his treatments for some time.
02:43Al requires the use of a feeding tube, because he didn't like the taste of his medication,
02:48no matter what treats keepers tried to hide it in.
02:53Al also needs the bandage on his foot changed frequently as it heals,
02:57which is done by his veterinarian, along with a team of people.
03:01Thanks to the dedication of the staff at both the Binder Park Zoo and the Brookfield Zoo,
03:06Al is on the mend.
03:07Now he has many more months of healing,
03:09but we're hoping that he will be enjoying neck scratches from his adoring fans.
