OTHER ANIMALS

A 1980 review on congenital defects of zoo and wild animals included only eight animals with cardiac defects.²⁰ A 1967 description of autopsy findings in 1400 zoo and wild mammals mentioned only one unspecified heart malformation — in a zebu.¹² Literature search disclosed more than 100 cases — still a fairly low number. Lack of awareness of heart defects and also a low autopsy rate are reasonable explanations to the fact that more cardiac defects have not been recognised.