Tiger saved as doctors perform surgery in a jungle

JABALPUR: Operating on a restless 180 pounds tiger for 90 minutes at a stretch in a jungle is by no means simple. The expert team from Madhya Pradesh Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidhayalaya, which headed for Panna Tiger Reserve on April 2, was well aware of the risks involved. But the SOS by R Shrinivas Murthy, field director of the reserve, seeking help for No. 212 needed to be addressed urgently, Dr AB Shrivastava, project director of the centre for wildlife forensic and health, who headed the team, decided.

The five-member team reached Panna forest, located the tiger, examined the wound through a binocular from a distance of 20ft sitting atop elephants, anesthetized him with a dart gun and carried out the surgery in the jungle on April 3. For the first time the team used tissue adhesive—used by plastic surgeons on humans—on an animal to ensure a neat and quick healing. And a fortnight later No. 212 is back to his normal life, Murthy confirmed to TOI on Monday.

The animal, said Dr Shrivastava, "was extremely restless and this had drawn the attention of the field director. The wound looked superficial, but upon close examination we could see maggots and guessed that it would be much deeper and nastier than how it looked. There was no time to lose. Operating under wild conditions, unlike operation in a zoo is fraught with risk but we decided to take it to save the tiger's life. The surgery was scheduled for 5.30am next day. We rounded up No. 212."

Six tables were arranged side by side for setting up the makeshift operation table. "After the wound was cleaned Dr VP Chandrapuri, head of surgery, used tissue adhesive to join the skin. This is the first time this technique has been used on an animal," Dr Shrivastava claimed. Though, unlike plastic surgeons, who use the adhesive for cosmetic reasons, here the purpose was to ensure a fast and sure healing. The animal was kept thereafter in an enclosure measuring two hectares for the next four days.