FIVE dolphins at Shenzhen Safari Park were found to be in sound health following endoscopic checks Saturday.
The checks were conducted after two of the dolphins showed symptoms of lack of appetite. Their keepers were worried they might have stomach problems.
A gastroscope was put through the dolphins mouths and down the esophagus to view their stomachs. Three were found to have no stomach problems at all while the other two only had minor drospy.
Different from humans, a dolphin has three stomachs that are connected, making it a bit difficult to conduct the checks, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.
Song Xuemei, a doctor at Longji Hospital who conducted the checks, said a dolphin might lose appetite for having emotional problems, having eaten unhygienic food or having eaten too fast. She reminded park visitors not to feed the dolphins.
The dolphins at the safari park will work as doctors for autistic children from April 12 to October, park officials said. Dolphin therapy is claimed to be able to increase speech and motor skills of children with autism.
(SD News)
