ISRAEL: Paralysed bear undergoes surgery at Israeli zoo

Record ID: 398560

  • Title: ISRAEL: Paralysed bear undergoes surgery at Israeli zoo
  • Date: 8th May 2014
  • Summary: RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL (MAY 7, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MANGO THE BEAR ANAESTHETISED AND STRAPPED TO OPERATING TABLE VARIOUS OF STAFF PREPARING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR SURGERY VARIOUS OF MANGO'S FUR BEING SHAVED STAFF MEMBER PREPARING SYRINGE MONITOR DISPLAYING MANGO'S VITAL SIGNS VARIOUS OF STAFF INSERTING SYRINGE INTO MANGO'S IV TUBE VARIOUS OF ZOO PERSONNEL STRAPPING MANGO
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA8KAMCA9IGLWKJPCYJWGNYNV8Q
  • Story Text: A risky operation to restore mobility to a paralysed bear named Mango was successful and staff at an Israeli zoo are optimistic for a full recovery, the surgeon who operated on the 250-kilogram (550-pound) mammal said Thursday (May 8).
    Israeli veterinary surgeons said the operation was the first of its type to be conducted on such a large bear. Veterinary neurosurgeon Merav Shamir of Jerusalem's Hebrew University, said the 19-year-old Syrian brown bear was suffering from a herniated disc that had caused paralysis of the lower limbs.
    Staff at the Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan, or 'safari,' as it is known locally, had noticed recently that Mango initially had trouble moving and appeared to be in pain. After his condition deteriorated even further, Mango was anaesthetised and moved to a hospital for a series of tests. where he was found to be suffering from a slipped disc in his spinal column.
    Shamir said medical case studies revealed that two bears suffering from the same problem had recently been euthanised, and surgery had not even been attempted.
    "There is only one report in the world of this problem being operated in bears," she said, although in that case the animal had been about half Mango's size. "It's a pretty much routine procedure in small dogs in veterinary medicine but such a large animal it would be the first time to try," she added, shortly before she began surgery on Wednesday (May 7).
    Staff prepared for the surgery at the zoo's operating theatre by strapping down the large and potentially dangerous animal and ensuring he was properly anaesthetised. They then shaved and washed the area along the spinal cord before covering Mango with sheets prior to beginning the surgery.
    Zoo officials said Mango would need to undergo an extensive and lengthy rehabilitation period, but they were hopeful for a full recovery.
    "I'm happy to say that it all went fine," Shamir said after the procedure. "We did x-rays after the surgery and whatever we wanted to do we accomplished and the bear is now awake, eating, communicating with the staff of the zoological park, so we are optimistic that in a few weeks we will see some improvement in his ability to walk."
    Recuperating in his cage, Mango was given fruit to eat and staff poured water through a tube for him to drink.
    According to the zoo, Syrian brown bears no longer live in the wild in Israel, and only exist in captivity, a situation believed to have been brought about due to habitat loss and poaching.
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