(US - IN): US veterinarian treats Orissa tigress via email

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Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1105151

 

US veterinarian treats Orissa tigress via email

IANS

Friday, June 22, 2007 12:02 IST

 

BHUBANESWAR: An American veterinarian is helping doctors at a Orissa

zoo cure a tigress, whose hind legs have been paralysed, by providing

advice via email.

 

On March 31 a team of forest officials and veterinarians rescued an

injured tigress, about six years old, from the Satkoshia wildlife

sanctuary in Angul district, some 220 km from here.

 

The tigress was moved to the Nandankanan Zoo on the outskirts of

Bhubaneswar, zoo director Ajit Patnaik told IANS.

 

" The tigress was in a bad shape with multiple gun injuries and wounds

having severe infections. There was a possibility of blood poisoning, "

said Patnaik.

 

" With proper care by the zoo veterinarians and experts from the Orissa

Veterinary College, the wound management was successful and the

tigress was saved.

 

" However the major challenge after that was the treatment of the

paralysis of hind legs due to the spinal injury it received when it

was shot. Animals rarely recover from this, " said Patnaik.

 

" We contacted Susan Murray, the veterinarian at the National Zoo in

Washington. She had the experience of dealing with such disorders.

 

" Murray wanted us to send the initial injury and x-ray by email so

that she could assess the condition of the tigress. After that she

advised us online, " said Patnaik.

 

" The veterinarians here started the treatment of the animal according

to her advice. Now, after 15 days of treatment, we are observing that

there is gradual movement of the hind legs of the tigress.

 

" It would be a big breakthrough if the tigress recovers fully, " added

Patnaik.