(MY) cataract op for orang utan

[Guest guest]

2007/05/17- New Straits Times

 

Light at the end of the tunnel for Aman?

 

 

KUCHING: The cataract surgery on Aman, the orang utan, proceeded

smoothly yesterday after a few anxious moments at the beginning.

 

However, it will be another two weeks before doctors will be able to

fully gauge its success.

 

" The surgery went well. In two weeks, Aman should be able to regain a

fair degree of its lost sight, " South African ophthalmologist Dr Izak

Venter said after carrying out the ground-breaking bilateral cataract

surgery, the world's first on an orang utan.

 

There was, however, some concern during the initial stages of the

mid-morning surgery as anaesthetist Dr Frik Stegman, also from South

Africa, struggled to sedate Aman who has been blind for the last 10

years.

 

" It was a bit dicey for a moment but after that there were no

problems, " said Dr Venter who took just under two hours — about 45

minutes on each eye — to perform the surgery.

Aman, a 19-year-old male orang utan at the Matang Wildlife Centre

located 40km outside the city centre, has become a celebrity in recent

days following reports of his impending surgery in the media.

 

Dr Venter, a veterinary consultant with the Animal Medical Centre

Group of Hospitals, said he was optimistic that the surgery had been

successful.

 

The hospital has clinics in Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur.

 

Although he had carried out numerous such surgeries on elephants,

lions, cheetahs, tigers, rhinoceroses and other wild animals during

his 13 years of practice in South Africa, this was the first time Dr

Venter had performed it on a big ape.

 

The South Africans were assisted by local veterinarian Dr Amilan

Sivagurunnathan.

 

The cost of the surgery was funded by public donations and the first

to donate was an English couple who were here on a four-week vacation

to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.

 

Phil and Jean Coggins of Hampshire, who have visited Sarawak yearly

over the last six years, donated RM2,000.

 

They regularly donate towards efforts to save the orang utans here.

 

The couple said the amount they donated to help pay for Aman's surgery

was a day's profit from their restaurant business.

 

" We wanted to do something special to coincide with our wedding

anniversary. And when we heard about this surgery, it was something

truly special, " 63-year-old Phil Coggins said.