It’s something of a surprise that the craze to develop virtual pet simulations on the Nintendo DS hasn’t infiltrated the Nintendo Wii quite so much, but Majesco Entertainment is making sure it doesn’t miss a trick, announcing today that Zoo Hospital will be released in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Like its handheld counterpart, Zoo Hospital on the Nintendo Wii will allow players to get down to the nitty gritty when it comes to taking care of some 48 different, sickly zoo animals - canels, dolphins, macaws and gorillas all included. Surgical techniques to be carried out with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck include dentistry, X-ray of organs and removing foreign bodies such as gallstones.

Zoo Hospital allows players to experience a 3D zoo environment and enables up to two friends to treat animals together in cooperative multi-player mode. Aspiring vets can also unlock new animals, enclosures, medical mini-games, and plaques by successfully performing procedures and raising the Zoo Rating.

A must for those who’ve ever wondered what it is like to operate on a duck-billed platypus.