A playful bear named Boki, who recently became the first animal in the UK to undergo brain surgery, is now recovering after the groundbreaking procedure.
The operation, which was initially expected to take two-and-a-half hours, ended up lasting five-and-a-half hours.
Boki needed the surgery after an MRI scan revealed that fluid had built up on his brain.
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The two-year-old brown bear, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, Kent, had been experiencing seizures and other health issues prior to the surgery.
According to the report from VKNews24, Boki is now on the mend after making history as the first UK animal to have this operation.
Becky Copland, the Animal Behaviour Management Officer, expressed how deeply staff were touched by Boki’s resilience.
“He’s a bit tired and uncomfortable, but he’s had some grapes, honey water, and his medication, so things are looking good,” Copland shared.
“It’s been emotional — Boki has gone through so much, and we’ve witnessed that firsthand.
“But it was really uplifting to see him eating the morning after.”
Elliot Simpson from the International Zoo Veterinary Group also praised Boki’s recovery: “He’s doing incredibly well.
“Given that he’s young and sensitive, we thought he’d be quite withdrawn after such a major surgery.
“But he loves company, and when we checked on him the next day, it seemed to cheer him up, almost as if he’s forgiven us for putting him through it, which is a great sign.
“However, the next few days will be crucial as we continue monitoring his long journey to recovery.”
The delicate surgery was performed by specialist wildlife vet Dr. Romain Pizzi at Wildwood Trust. The goal of the procedure was to relieve the fluid pressure on Boki’s brain.
Reflecting on the bear’s character, Dr. Pizzi said, “He’s a very trusting, friendly bear with a bit of a goofy side.
“He’s got a lot of personality, and I can see why everyone here has grown so attached to him.
“But for now, it’s a waiting game. We’ll have to see how things progress over the coming weeks and months.
“We all want the best for him, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
The surgery was performed last Wednesday, on October 9.
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SOURCE: Goofy bear – the first to undergo brain op – recovering after pioneering surgery
