Reconstructive surgery done on female gaur at city zoo

Reconstructive surgery has been performed on a gaur (Indian bison) with severe injuries at the city zoo.

A female gaur had sustained severe injuries in a fight with another bison last week. It was left with a split upper lip, while the lower lip had totally detached from the gum.

Male and female gaurs have been put up in separate enclosures at the zoo to check their population. However, a male gaur had been shifted to the enclosure of female gaur for mating as the zoo had sent a pair of gaur to the zoo under the Forest department in Thrissur. However, a female gaur in the group sustained injuries in the unexpected attack.

A team led by zoo veterinary surgeon Nikesh Kiran performed emergency reconstructive surgery lasting three hours on the gaur and reclaimed the lip structure.

The gaurs eat food using their lips that have a particular structure and the tongue. As a result, serious injury to the lips results in a reduced food intake and can lead to the animal’s death.

Dr. Nikesh was assisted by house surgeons Alby B. Bruce, Keerthana, Anna Mamachan, Anne Cruz, Bhadra P., Liya Babu, and Aparna Uthaman.