They contacted John Hallak, president and COO of AAA Weigh, who had installed previous scales at the L.A. Zoo. “We have done many projects over the years, including scales for zebras, birds, reptiles and other animals,” says John. “The level of care the zoo provides is so intense and comprehensive that scales are required for every animal. Everyone knows the animals they see at the zoo, but there are really many more animals the public doesn’t see that need to be cared for as well. Scales are an extremely important part of this, and I knew this application would require a special scale.”

“The zoo needed a scale that was sound, durable and repeatable,” John continues. “In addition to the demanding weight, the area is outdoors so there are weather issues to consider. Also, the environment is not as clean as a medical or pharmaceutical company since there is dirt and other materials around. Often, the animals are moving and not always perfectly still, so for all these reasons, they needed a scale that could take a beating.”

AAA Weigh had already installed several RoughDeck floor scales throughout the zoo, and recommended a custom RoughDeck HP for the hippo and rhino. Its 10,000-pound capacity and legendary durability would be able to withstand a rhino stomp or hippo thrash. A 144-inch by 56-inch area behind the exhibit was designated for the pit installation, and Rice Lake provided schematics for the zoo construction department to prepare the scale pit. “I was a bit nervous because if something was slightly off, the scale wouldn’t fit,” remembers Robin. “AAA Weigh was great in facilitating our needs and getting the information we needed from Rice Lake, and when the scale arrived, it fit like a glove. Sometimes, animals try to mess with scales by hooking a corner with their horn or mouth, or
pulling on exposed wires. This scale is counter-sunk in the pit, so the animals aren’t even aware they are standing on something different.”

“We always know what we are going to get with a Rice Lake Roughdeck,” explains John. “It has a high level of durability and the ease of custom sizing makes it perfect for these types of applications. I have had bad experiences with other brands in the past and know from experience that Rice Lake is the brand to use for high-end, custom, long-lasting applications.”

When the installation was complete, the young hippo was delivered to the zoo. The first series of weighments revealed the hippo was having trouble adjusting to its new environment. They knew he wasn’t eating well, but could not visually confirm whether he had lost weight. “With the scale, we were able to access exactly how much weight he had lost since arriving,” remembers Robin. “After a few weeks, we could see that he started to gain weight, which gave us peace of mind that he had finally started to settle down.”

Robin was also able to weigh the zoo’s rhino for the first time in 39 years. Randa the rhino weighed in at 4,343 pounds, falling into the “healthy” category. Adhama the hippo continues to grow, with the latest weight being 2,054 pounds, roughly one-third of its potential adult weight. The weights are recorded daily and entered in the Zoological Inventory Monitoring System (ZIMS), a software program which enables easy tracking of animal health throughout the course of their life.

Now able to monitor the weights of their most dangerous animals, zoo personnel can more effectively provide care. Animal health is the zoo’s highest priority, and ensuring they have the highest quality of life possible requires the highest quality of scale.