During a proper post-mortem examination, all organs – including the ovaries and uterus of the Nile hippopotamus seen here – are removed from the body cavity for thorough examination and sample collection. “We, as pathologists, conduct post-mortems, take samples from every organ, do as many tests as we can from the carcasses we get. We study the dead to help the living,” says Dr Hsu.

ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN