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| Eye specialists complete multiple surgeries in Chengdu |
| Success and hope for two blind bears |
Dr Claudia Hartley and Dr David Donaldson, veterinarians with UK charity the Animal Health Trust, completed their surgeries and departed Chengdu on Monday (23 March) after more than a week at the Moon Bear Rescue Centre.
Ten bears had eye surgery of some kind, including cataract removal and a total of 16 were anaesthetised for eye checks. Snoopy and Sophie were the only truly blind bears who had cataract extractions, while other bears had their vision improved through corrective surgery.
The jury is still out on Snoopy, who had surgery last Thursday, as we are waiting for a blood clot, in what we hope will be her “good” eye, to dissipate before we can check her vision again. However, we are optimistic for her, especially as there does seem to be some change in her behaviour since she was returned to her den.
Bear Manager, Belinda Bordelon, who has spent hours observing Snoopy before and after her operation, said a few days after the surgery there was “something different” about her. “She seems to be seeing something at least, the way she sits in her basket looking around and looking up at the ceiling. I’ve never seen her do that before.” Belinda said Snoopy seemed to be moving her eyes – not just her head as she did previously – towards sounds and the smell of food.
Claudia also commented on Snoopy’s behaviour before she left. “I have been watching Snoops relaxing in her basket and stripping browse leaves. She looks so contented. I’m still not sure how much vision she has, because bears are very difficult to test visually (their fantastic noses and great hearing can make a blind bear act sighted). Claudia said she was encouraged by the fact that Snoopy appeared to be following movement with her eyes. “She seemed to be following the movement of Caroline as she walked past her, which was really encouraging”.
Snoopy will have two weeks of den-rest to recover from her surgery and to ensure her eyes have properly healed before any rough play. In the meantime, we continue to wait, with all fingers crossed, for the final outcome.
Sophie on the other hand, is starting to experience a whole new life. With cataracts in both eyes, and the retina in her right eye no longer functional, leaving no hope for its repair, surgery was done on her left eye only. Dr David Donaldson performed Sophie’s surgery, assisted by Claudia who said “As with Snoopy, the cataract was extremely hard but surgery went extremely well, and we were also able to place a false lens … I have high hopes for Sophie being visually rehabilitated.”
Earlier this week, Vet Nurse Hayley sent us the following report on Sophie.
“Sophie can certainly see!! It's brilliant and totally amazing to witness. I looked after her all day yesterday in her recovery cage and she is a changed bear. She follows the shake jug with her eye as it has her tasty antibiotic-laced marshmallows and condensed milk in it.
Always a very brave bear anyway despite her blindness, she is positively feisty now! Russell our brilliant volunteer says that she is quite grabby now... going after everything. How wonderful that she is embracing her new found sight and reaching out for the things she could never see.
I remember being surprised when she was first released into an enclosure at how quickly she marched off into the bamboo forest area despite her blindness, so I am very excited to see how she behaves when she is released again. Watch out bears of House 8!!”
Senior Vet Heather expects Sophie to be released into her enclosure in about 10-14 days' time.
The entire Animals Asia team, both onsite and off, are hugely grateful to Claudia and David for the amazing gifts they have given the bears. We never expected that these visually impaired and blind bears could be so restored, moving them even further away from their previously tortured lives on bile farms.
Read more about the Animal Health Trust's "Sight for Sore Eyes Campaign" here
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| Snoopy underwent four hours of surgery in a bid to restore her vision. |
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| Sophie had a cataract removed from her left eye and a new lens implanted. |
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| Fiercely independent already, Sophie's quality of life should improve immensely. |
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| Fiercely independent already, Sophie's quality of life should improve immensely. |
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