Rhinoceros with broken leg regains mobility after unprecedented operation

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - A rhinoceros with a broken leg at the Knowsley Safari Park in the UK, successfully regained mobility following a first-of-its-kind operation, the BBC reported Thursday.

Amara, the rhinoceros, underwent keyhole surgery and wore a cast for four weeks.

Surgeons adapted techniques from horse surgeries to treat Amara because of a lack of information on similar injuries in rhinos.

It all started when Amara began limping on her right front leg earlier this year. Radiographs revealed a fractured ulna.

The operation at the Merseyside Safari Park involved specialist surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, animal keepers and support staff.

The extensive procedure was conducted while Amara was anaesthetized in her enclosure, which included keyhole surgery on her "wrist."

"Amara's operation is unlike anything we've experienced previously," said David Stack, senior lecturer in equine surgery at the University of Liverpool.

Amara was fitted with a full limb cast to support her leg after the operation and remained in her enclosure to limit movement.

"We were unsure if the cast would be strong enough and how Amara would cope with such a restriction on her limb.

"We hoped that she would accept it and that she would be able to move around, get down and, importantly, back up again but this was unchartered water," added Stack.

Amara was eventually back on her feet and able to enjoy the outdoors again, moving from a small paddock to the expansive Safari Drive area of the park.

To aid her recovery, the surgical team injected her affected joint with platelet-rich plasma, derived from her blood.