Docs fix artificial limb on tiger, big cat shakes it off
NAGPUR: The operation to fix an artificial limb on Sahebrao, one of the most famous tigers of Palasgaon forest of Tadoba tiger reserve failed on Saturday. The vets attending to the tiger were disappointed after their twoyear-long effort went futile.
The tiger had lost a paw after being caught in a steel trap laid by poachers at a waterhole around eight years ago. The big cat was then brought to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Nagpur’s Seminary Hills for treatment in a specially-erected pandal. After its health improved, the tiger was handed over to the local Maharajbagh zoo – not for display purpose – but further treatment.
Nandkishore Kale, divisional manager, Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) and in-charge of Wildlife Rescue Centre, informed that the tiger whose front left paw was amputated was operated upon on Saturday and an artificial prosthetic limb was fixed by a team of veterinary doctors and city’s well-known orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sushrut Babhulkar.
Apart from Dr Babhulkar, a team of experts including veterinarian Dr Shirish Upadhyay, medical personnel from Maharashtra
Animal and Fisheries Science University (MAFSU), experts from Indian Institute of Technology-bombay and abroad had collaborated over the past two years on the project. But, the operation failed and tiger rejected the artificial limb.
Prof Peter Janadice from Leeds in the United Kingdom, an expert on wildlife surgery, also took part in the operation. It was the first time an operation like this was happening anywhere in the world. The operation was performed after tranquilising the big cat and an artificial limb was fixed. When the tiger regained consciousness, it shook off its legs and the artificial limb was separated.
“We will discuss the issue with veterinarians and higher wildlife officials and then decide our next course of action,” said Kale, in-charge of the centre.
AN ARTIFICIAL LIMB WAS FIXED ON THE TIGER, SAHEBRAO DURING THE OPERATION, BUT IT FELL OFF AFTER THE TIGER SHOOK ITS LIMBS