GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The John Ball Zoo's penguin habitat was transformed into the area's busiest doctor's office this week.

All 24 of the John Ball Zoo's Magellanic penguins had their annual wellness exam on Thursday, keeping the zoo's animal care teams busy for hours.

There were multiple stations set up throughout the space, all with the intention of ensuring each penguin got a thorough exam.

The penguins got a physical done by the vet, including checking their mouths and eyes, being weighed and having a check to ensure their joints were functioning correctly.

There was one station dedicated to trimming overgrown beaks or nails, and at another, each penguin had its blood drawn and a radiograph done.

Dan Hemmann, a curator at the zoo, said the animal care teams work with the penguins

See Full Page