Vet Mark Straw is the man to call when you want to scan a leopard or a baboon!

and Yorkshire Wildlife Park has been keeping him busy for almost a decade now.

05 May 2026

The Doncaster-based Vet, who runs the successful Beechwood Veterinary Hospital, is a go-to expert for the award-winning park that is home to more than 400 animals from rare and endangered species.

“There is rarely a dull moment and when I first graduated, I never expected to be X-raying lions or trying to keep a sea turtle calm while we scanned it,” says Mark, who was invited to be part of the park’s ethics committee before taking on a wider role.

“It is a privilege to be able to get up close to and touch amazing animals and help them. It’s also an honour to be involved and we give our services free because the park is at the forefront of wildlife conservation and preserving species, ensuring we don't lose these animals from the world.

“Their staff dedicate their lives to the animals and want the best for them, so it is great to be playing a part in that. If we did not offer the CT scans for free this imaging technique would not be feasible for these animal. We help because we care”

Mark, who is Vet with advanced qualifications in Orthopaedics , is often called into the 175-acre park, at Auckley, near Doncaster, but also has a hospital-grade CT scanner at his practice where most creatures great and small can be assessed.

“The last patient we had was a leopard who was anaesthetised at the park and, as we are close, driven here so we could scan and find the best treatment,” adds Mark, whose services stretch from diagnostic to dentistry and orthopaedics to cardiology.

“In addition to assisting with animal from the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Mark and his team offer their services free of charge to the International Zoo veterinary Group (IZVG). We have previously scanned a sea turtle who wasn’t initially anaesthetised, and we were warned not to let our fingers get close as she could easily amputate them with her powerful jaw. It was a delicate procedure but with patience it all went well, and we discovered she was carrying eggs, so arrangements were made to take her to a facility with a beach to lay the eggs.

“All I wanted to do when I finished training was dogs and cats and bones, I never dreamed I would get to treat such incredible animals. Our staff get a real boost when one of the park’s animals come in and it really is great to be able to see them and know they are being cared for well.

“Veterinary science and practices have advanced incredibly over the last 30 years, and we can now do so much more for domestic and more exotic animals. I am delighted that we can play a part in preserving endangered species and supporting the park in its conservation and education work.”

Cheryl Williams, CEO of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s WildLife Foundation added: “Mark has been a vital help for almost ten years, and we really value what he does for us and the animals here. He is just a few minutes from the park, and we have built up a great partnership with and are extremely grateful for him and his staff giving their considerable skills and dedication on a voluntary basis.”