Eye of the tiger: Ratna receives sight saving surgery

An 18-year-old tiger called Ratna at Shepreth Wildlife Park has received sight-saving surgery, which was the first of its kind to be performed on a big cat.

Ratna had cataracts removed in 2018 and required daily eye drops but in February this year, the keepers noticed a discolouration.

Despite having a procedure under anaesthetic, Ratna’s eye continued to deteriorate and she required a hood graft, which was usually practised on domestic cats and dogs.

Dr David Williams from Cambridge University Pet School, who performed the procedure, said: ‘There was considerable damage to the cornea which in any domestic cat would have required intensive eye care, so we decided the best course of action was to operate to place a graft of conjunctiva across the front of the eye.’