The Wild Side of Portable Imaging: MinXray and Global Wildlife Center

Written by Katie Robertson - Public Relations Account Executive

For more than 35 years, Global Wildlife Center (GWC) in Folsom, Louisiana, has served as a sanctuary for animal species from around the globe. Beyond providing a safe haven for wildlife, the center offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience meaningful, up-close connections with nature.

“People protect what they love, and they love what they know,” said GWC Executive Director Christina Cooper. “With our free-range enclosures and up-close encounters, visitors to the center have experiences with these animals that they’ll never forget.”

Today, the GWC is a 900-acre open safari park that hosts over 2,000 animals, including several endangered species and even some that are extinct in the wild.

Providing medical care for all these animals and across such a large space can be a challenge. Equipment needs to offer capabilities for a variety of species and operate in a way that is minimally disruptive to the patients. These factors caused GWC leadership to seek out a portable X-ray system and ultimately land on a partnership with MinXray.

The Power of Portability

One of the features that drew the GWC team to the Enduras Wireless System from MinXray was its portability. The system is complete, providing all the equipment and software needed to capture diagnostic imaging in one package, while remaining compact and lightweight. It fits easily into a carrying case that can be transported anywhere on the property. Animals do not need to be transported to a hospital or other central care location for imaging services because the technology can be brought to them directly. In addition, Enduras is battery-powered, meaning care teams do not have to take a generator or other power source into the field with them.

“This X-ray unit is valuable to me as a veterinarian and to our organization because of the fact that it is so portable. It can go anywhere on our 900-acre property. It doesn’t require wires or a WiFi unit. It’s its own, built-in system,” said Director of Animal Programs Dr. Kanyon McLean.

The ability to travel to the animals is not just useful for practical reasons, it also helps Dr. McLean to provide a more comfortable care experience.

“We really encourage our animals to willingly participate in their own medical care,” she said. “We do that by showing them that the equipment is safe so that when they need it, they know it isn’t going to hurt them.”

As she was explaining this approach to veterinary care, Dr. McLean was feeding a herd of capybara in an exposure exercise to make the rodents more comfortable around the X-ray system. The durable design supported the animals climbing on top of the generator and panel or even toppling them over in the search for a snack.

Convenience and Collaboration

Another factor that enhances the usability of MinXray’s technology in GWC’s applications is its intuitive, user-friendly design, which allows staff to efficiently assemble the system and capture the images they need.

“We acquire images really quickly,” said Dr. McLean. “It probably takes about five minutes to get everything up and running. Before you know it, I’ve got high-quality X-rays to diagnose our patients.”

She shared a story of a red kangaroo that received treatment with the Enduras Wireless system. The animal was exhibiting signs of dental distress, and, after bringing the portable X-ray out into the field to capture images, Dr. McLean confirmed there was a tooth abscess. Following the diagnosis, she was able to quickly remove the tooth and restore the kangaroo to health. 

Beyond the equipment, the GWC team has also reported gratitude for MinXray’s customer service. The intuitive features of the system are supported by the MinXray staff, which is dedicated to ensuring users are in the best position for success. A member of the MinXray team will travel with the system to the customer to assist with setup and on-site training. The U.S.-based support is also always available for technical help and troubleshooting, ensuring equipment issues never stand in the way of quality care.

 Cooper said, “The partnership with MinXray has been phenomenal. The team has been so responsive to all of our needs. We’re thrilled to have this technology that helps us better care for the animals in our stewardship.”