Bhopal vets successfully operate on sloth bear for tumour

For the first time in the country, a rescued sloth bear has been successfully operated for a removal of a tumour.

Bhopal, Aug 8 : For the first time in the country, a rescued sloth bear has been successfully operated for a removal of a tumour.

Thirteen-year-old Fido was rescued from "madaaris" or nomads, who train and use the animal for entertainment.

The vets who operated on Fido said all necessary precautions would be taken for its recuperation.

"He (Fido) will be kept on antibiotics for at least six to eight days, so that no infection affects him. He will be on a liquid diet for over a week," said Doctor Atul Gupta, who operated on him.

Explaining the cause of the tumour, A K Khare, Assistant Director of the Van Vihar National Park, said "When the bear owners would have extracted its (bear) teeth, some portion of it would have remained inside, which made a wound leading to tumor."The National Park has rescued 17 such bears from "madaaris".

India had banned using bears for entertainment under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. But nomads still keep and use bears for entertainment at fairs and festivals.

Sloth bears are one of the four types of bears found in India. They are also found in the lowland forests of Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.These omnivorous animals are hunted by the poachers mainly for their gall bladder, which is believed to be a valuable ingredient of medicine.

ANI