A majestic wildlife patient has put the spotlight on the incredible work happening behind the scenes at Onderstepoort, where education, innovation, conservation and animal care come together every day.
Pretoria, South Africa (11 June 2026) – The king of the jungle “lion” patiently inside a CT scanner isn’t something you see every day. But that’s exactly the scene that has South Africans smiling yesterday after the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) shared photos of one of its latest patients… and the internet is loving it!
The hospital’s social media post introduced followers to a majestic visitor at the OVAH Wildlife Clinic, where a lion had been referred for a comprehensive diagnostic workup that included an ultrasound and a CT scan.
The images immediately captured attention online, with thousands of people stopping to admire the magnificent animal and the incredible veterinary team working behind the scenes to care for it. And, of course, the jokes followed soon after.
“Putting a whole new meaning on getting a CAT scan,” one commenter joked, earning plenty of laughs from fellow animal lovers.
The OVAH is one of South Africa’s leading veterinary teaching hospitals and forms part of the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science. The hospital provides specialised care for a wide range of animals, from beloved family pets to wildlife species, while also serving as a critical training ground for future veterinarians and veterinary nurses. That educational role is exactly what makes cases like this so important.
Sharing the lion’s story, the hospital explained:
“A royal patient at the OVAH Wildlife Clinic!🦁
This lion was referred to us for a comprehensive diagnostic work-up, including both an ultrasound examination and a CT scan.
As a teaching hospital, cases like this do more than help our patients where we strive to provide the best possible care — they help train the next generation of veterinarians and veterinary nurses. Our students work alongside our experienced wildlife team, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in wildlife medicine and conservation.
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Every patient teaches a lesson, and every lesson helps build the future of veterinary care and the animals we treat 🩺🦁”
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“This is the kind of post that makes a future wildlife-vet-mom’s heart happy! 🦁 My son dreams of working with animals like these one day, and seeing the incredible work being done here is both inspiring and exciting. Thank you for sharing!” one supporter commented.
Another added:
“Beautiful animal, truly magnificent 🦁❤️🐾 Thank you Onderstepoort for your hard work and dedication 🙏”
Beyond the viral photos and witty comments, the story offers a fascinating glimpse into the extraordinary work happening every day at one of South Africa’s most respected veterinary institutions. While most of us will never find ourselves arranging a CT scan for a lion, it is reassuring to know that when wildlife needs advanced medical care, there are dedicated professionals, educators and students ready to step in.
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