more-in A rare surgery was performed on a gharial at the city zoo last weekend, thus making the animal, rendered nearly immobile by a genital prolapse, mobile again. It was on Thursday last that an animal keeper noticed that the male gharial, Madhu, was not eating food and showing signs of discomfort. This being the gharials’ breeding and egg-laying season, the keeper realised that Madhu had a genital prolapse, a medical condition in which the genitals that are inside the animal come out, making it painful for it to move around. Not common The keeper informed zoo veterinarian Jacob Alexander, and it was decided to perform a surgery. Though not common, genital prolapse has been reported in gharials in the country, Dr. Alexander says. The city zoo has had a case of genital prolapse in a tortoise earlier. With Madhu finding it difficult to move because of the prolapsed organ scraping against the ground as he moved, water was filled in the pond to give him some buoyancy. As he weighed 300-odd kg, it was decided against transporting him to the zoo hospital in such a condition or using restraints to perform the procedure. On Saturday, the day of the surgery, water was drained out of the pond so that Madhu did not aspirate water when he was given anaesthesia. Only after this, did the zoo authorities really get a look at the organ, which had borne the brunt of the prolapse. Madhu was then darted, the genitals manipulated back after sterilisation into proper position, and a purse-string suture applied to prevent a fresh prolapse, Dr. Alexander said. Full anaesthetic revival usually takes three days, but Madhu was almost back to his usual self the day after the surgery. Preventing aspiration With drugs still inside his system, the water level in the pond had to be optimal to prevent any aspiration but still allow its skin and eyes to remain wet. Medication such as antiseptic ointments, long-acting antibiotic injections, and painkillers were administered to the animal, Dr. Alexander says, adding that Madhu is on the road to recovery.

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