Revolutionary Surgery Performed on Injured Rhino

In a pioneering medical achievement, a team of over ten veterinarians, including specialist surgeons, anesthetists, and animal keepers, successfully conducted what is described as a “world-first surgery” on a rhino with a broken leg. This groundbreaking procedure took place on Thursday and has been hailed as a remarkable advancement in veterinary medicine.

Meet Amara: The Southern white rhino

Amara, an almost two-year-old Southern white rhino, resides at the Knowsley Safari Park near Prescot in northwestern England. Earlier this year, Amara was observed limping on her right front leg.

“Earlier this year, Amara began limping on her right front leg,” Knowsley Safari Park shared with ABC News. A team of specialist equine surgeons from the University of Liverpool was brought in to diagnose the issue, revealing a fractured ulna.

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The ulna, or ulnar bone, is a long forearm bone in humans extending from the elbow to the wrist, and in rhinos, it is linked to the lower front leg. The surgery marked uncharted territory, as no prior records or documentation existed for this type of procedure on a rhino. The team adapted techniques used for treating horses with similar injuries.

The unprecedented procedure

“Under anaesthesia in Amara’s enclosure, the large team performed a lengthy operation, including key-hole surgery of Amara’s wrist, in a procedure lasting five hours,” the park detailed. Dr. David Stack, senior lecturer in Equine Surgery at the University of Liverpool, described the process as “unlike they have experienced previously.”

Due to the unprecedented nature of the procedure, uncertainties abounded. “We were unsure if the cast would be strong enough and how Amara would cope with such a restriction on her limb,” Stack remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by the team.

Recovery and future implications

Amara was fitted with a full limb cast to support her leg and kept within her enclosure to limit movement. The zoo reports she is doing “well” with her treatment, and the cast is expected to be removed in May. Southern white rhinos, native to the savannahs of southern and eastern Africa, are listed as ‘near threatened’ due to “decades of rampant poaching” for their horns, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Amara, known for her “boisterous play,” exemplifies typical traits of her species. “Treating Amara has been a truly ground-breaking veterinary journey incorporating many firsts,” said Stack. The team plans to document the procedure for future reference, though they hope such notes will never be needed again.

This landmark surgery not only offers hope for Amara’s recovery but also sets a precedent in veterinary science, opening pathways for future innovations in animal care.