A brown bear in Kent is to undergo brain surgery this week in what will be the first operation of its kind in the UK.
Two-year-old Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust between Canterbury and Herne Bay, was diagnosed with a condition called hydrocephalus earlier this year.
He has been suffering from seizures and other health-related issues and an MRI scan in April revealed he had a build-up of fluid in his brain.
Although his condition was initially managed with medication, keepers at the park say this is no longer having the same effect.
It means draining the fluid from Boki’s brain is now his only option to live “a healthier, enriched life”.
Specialist wildlife surgeon Romain Pizzi – who is the only person to have performed brain surgery on a bear before – will carry out the operation.
The Wildwood Trust says he is “the best possible person for the job and an absolute world leader in his field.”
Boki “would not survive through the winter” without the surgery, they added.
However, despite Mr Pizzi volunteering his time and team to the project, surgery and immediate aftercare for Boki is expected to cost £20,000.
Those wishing to donate to Boki’s surgery can do so by clicking here.
It is hoped it will be a one-off procedure.
While Boki will gain weight following the operation, the team at Wildwood is confident that his overall body length will not change significantly.
Boki was adopted by the park as a 10-month old cub.
Having been rejected by his mother at just 10 weeks, he was hand-reared at Port Lympne Safari Park near Hythe.
However, he needed a new home where he could have the space to play, explore and other ears to teach him natural bear behaviours, and was transferred to Wildwood.
