World first tiger eye surgery a success

Sight-saving surgery on a tiger from Shepreth Wildlife Park near Royston, Cambridgeshire, was a great success and the left eye ‘healed really well’, experienced vets revealed.

Experts were called after Sumatran tiger Ratna was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer and showed deterioration in her left eye in 2021 following cataract removal surgery.

Vet ophthalmologist Dr David Williams from the University of Cambridge and vet Steve Philp of the International Zoo Veterinary Group carried out a hood graft operation, believed to be a world first for a big cat.

The duo was ‘thrilled’ to see that the procedure had worked when they returned to Shepreth Wildlife Park and checked on the 20-year old feline this year.