The veterinary doctors at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad recently performed a major eye surgery on an 11-year-old male horned rhinoceros. The rhinoceros, named Sai Vijay, had been suffering from eye problems since he was six years old. He had been under treatment for the growth of his left eyeball and had been experiencing severe pain for the past six months.
The surgery, called Enucleation, involved the removal of the left eye. It was conducted by a team of veterinary doctors led by Dr. G Shambhulingam, Assistant Director (Vet), along with Dr. MA Hakeem, Deputy Director (Vet), Dr. Ch Praveen Kumar, veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Dr. J Radhakrishna Rao, Associate Professor of Surgery, and Dr. M Navin Kumar, Deputy Director (Retd). The surgery was successful with the help of the zoo veterinary staff and animal keepers.
The operation required the use of a drug called etorphine, which is commonly used for anesthesia in zoos and wildlife. It is considered the best option for animals like elephants, rhinoceroses, and other hoofed animals. The drug was borrowed from Mysore Zoo with the support of M C Pargaien, chief wildlife warden, and VSNV Prasad, Conservator of Forests/Director, Zoo Parks, Hyderabad, as well as Dr. Sunil S Hiremath, Curator of Nehru Zoological Park.
Samples from the rhinoceros were collected and sent to VBRI in Shanti Nagar, Hyderabad for further testing and diagnosis. This surgical intervention was a major accomplishment for the Hyderabad Zoo and required coordination among different veterinary doctors.
