BORN FREE
KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD
It was time for Bella’s annual check up this week and everything went very smoothly. After resident vet Dr Richard Ssuna had put her under anaesthetic, several volunteers had to be drafted in to carry her across the enclosure – all 180kg of her! As many of you will know, Bella had to have one eye removed in Romania, as the result of an untreated eye condition called glaucoma which had left the affected eye very bulbous, and being blind in that eye, the eye was at great risk of being damaged. Bella also had a cataract in the other eye as a result of malnutrition during her time in the Romanian zoo. An eye surgeon from Nkhoma Hospital was brought in especially to check the condition of her remaining eye, and he said that laser surgery might be helpful at some point to remove some scarring. However, he is happy with her condition for now.
Her joints were found to be a little stiff due to her arthritis - she has poor conformation, again probably as a result of malnutrition in captivity or in-breeding, and so she will go on a special joint supplement to help her loosen up.
Blood tests were taken and she was also de-wormed and received vaccinations for rabies and tetanus and was given a little ‘pedicure’ to keep her claws in good nick.
Overall Richard was happy with her health, although she does appear to be enjoying her steak a little too much and needs to go on a diet!
For more information on Bella:
BELLA'S SURGERY
BELLA'S RECOVERY
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