Reptile Classifieds: A male crocodile at the city zoo will undergo a complex facial reconstruction surgery in the first week of February. The crocodile had broken its lower jaw in a fight with another crocodile two years ago. Coimbatore Zoo director Dr K Ashokan will conduct the surgery.
The surgery has been planned in consultation with international crocodile specialist groups. According to information available from a Hong Kong-based group, this surgery could be the first of its kind on a crocodile anywhere in the world. A crocodile is actually a type of lizard.
"A metal plate will be fitted in the place of the lost jaw using screws. Skin from other parts of the body will be grafted over the metal plate. Skin will grow over the operated parts and make it look like the original jaw. The operation will be conducted in the zoo itself," Ashokan told TOI.
The injured mugger was brought to the zoo in 1987 from Amaravathi dam near Udumalpet. "Due to the lost jaw, the reptile was unable to chew or bite food properly. At present, it can chew with only a part of the mouth. This has made the crocodile weaker compared to the other crocodiles. Also, its size is almost half of what it should have been," he said.
Coimbatore Surgical Ltd is providing materials for the surgery. "To make the steel plate for the lower jaw, we have made use of existing skeletons of crocodiles," says Ashokan.
Ashokan had recently operated a cobra in the same zoo to remove a large tumour. The cobra, which was being fed through a tube, has recovered.
The cobra which was operated on January 14 at the zoo is regained its full health. The snake had two tumours. One of the tumours has been removed for biopsy test. "After the surgery, the snake was fed through a tube for a week. Now the cobra is able to eat rats and frogs which are alive", said Ashokan. He told TOI that the snake has been identified with 'benign tumour'. "We are giving ordinary antibiotics to the animal. We will consult specialists to decide on the follow ups needed," he said. Kevin Oskow Big Reptile Network www.bigreptilenetwork.com www.reptilelaws.org www.savereptiles.org Reptile Classifieds: A male crocodile at the city zoo will undergo a complex facial reconstruction surgery in the first week of February. The crocodile had broken its lower jaw in a fight with another crocodile two years ago. Coimbatore Zoo director Dr K Ashokan will conduct the surgery.
The surgery has been planned in consultation with international crocodile specialist groups. According to information available from a Hong Kong-based group, this surgery could be the first of its kind on a crocodile anywhere in the world. A crocodile is actually a type of lizard.
"A metal plate will be fitted in the place of the lost jaw using screws. Skin from other parts of the body will be grafted over the metal plate. Skin will grow over the operated parts and make it look like the original jaw. The operation will be conducted in the zoo itself," Ashokan told TOI.
The injured mugger was brought to the zoo in 1987 from Amaravathi dam near Udumalpet. "Due to the lost jaw, the reptile was unable to chew or bite food properly. At present, it can chew with only a part of the mouth. This has made the crocodile weaker compared to the other crocodiles. Also, its size is almost half of what it should have been," he said.
Coimbatore Surgical Ltd is providing materials for the surgery. "To make the steel plate for the lower jaw, we have made use of existing skeletons of crocodiles," says Ashokan.
Ashokan had recently operated a cobra in the same zoo to remove a large tumour. The cobra, which was being fed through a tube, has recovered.
The cobra which was operated on January 14 at the zoo is regained its full health. The snake had two tumours. One of the tumours has been removed for biopsy test. "After the surgery, the snake was fed through a tube for a week. Now the cobra is able to eat rats and frogs which are alive", said Ashokan. He told TOI that the snake has been identified with 'benign tumour'. "We are giving ordinary antibiotics to the animal. We will consult specialists to decide on the follow ups needed," he said. Kevin Oskow Big Reptile Network www.bigreptilenetwork.com www.reptilelaws.org www.savereptiles.org
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