Boki the brown bear is making progress after pioneering brain surgery

The two-year-old bear had been suffering from seizures which were believed to be caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)
Boki the brown bear is making progress after pioneering brain surgery

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A brown bear in Kent who underwent pioneering, life-saving brain surgery in October has made a "very encouraging" recovery after six weeks of rehabilitation.

Boki became the first brown bear on record to have brain surgery, according to Wildwood Trust.

Specialist wildlife veterinary surgeon, Romain Pizzi, prepares to perform surgery to drain fluid from the brain of two-year-old brown bear Boki, at Wildwood Trust in Kent
Specialist wildlife veterinary surgeon, Romain Pizzi, prepares to perform surgery to drain fluid from the brain of two-year-old brown bear Boki, at Wildwood Trust in Kent

The two-year-old, who lives at Wildwood Trust, near Canterbury, Kent, had been suffering from seizures which were believed to be caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).

He had been medicated with prednisolone to deal with the swelling and build-up of fluid, but zoo workers would have been unable to treat him once he went into semi-hibernation (torpor).

The surgery to drain fluid from the brain of Boki is first time an operation of this kind has been carried out in Britain
The surgery to drain fluid from the brain of Boki is first time an operation of this kind has been carried out in Britain

It was decided that brain surgery was the best option for Boki, who went under the knife for five hours on Wednesday October 9.

World-leading veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who waived his fee for the job, fitted a stent between Boki's brain and abdomen to help him pass the excess fluid.

Two-year-old brown bear Boki in his enclosure at the Wildwood Trust in Canterbury, Kent, as he recovers from surgery to drain fluid from his brain. An MRI scan earlier this year on Boki, who had been suffering from seizures and related health issues, revealed he has hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)
Two-year-old brown bear Boki in his enclosure at the Wildwood Trust in Canterbury, Kent, as he recovers from surgery to drain fluid from his brain. An MRI scan earlier this year on Boki, who had been suffering from seizures and related health issues, revealed he has hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)

Mr Pizzi said the surgery "appears to have been successful in improving his condition" and Boki is at the stage where experts can try to wean him off his medication.

"Six weeks seems like such a short time when you think of how far Boki has come since the day of his surgery," said Mark Habben, director of zoo operations at Wildwood Trust.

"For the team who have shown such unrivalled dedication, caring for him day and night, it's probably felt a lot longer than 42 days.

"Timescales aside, we're in awe of the progress he's made and remain incredibly grateful to Romain and everyone who has helped us get Boki back to the charismatic, carefree bear we first met nearly two years ago - albeit a slightly heavier version."

Specialist wildlife veterinary surgeon, Romain Pizzi performing surgery to drain fluid from the brain of two-year-old brown bear Boki, at Wildwood Trust in Kent
Specialist wildlife veterinary surgeon, Romain Pizzi performing surgery to drain fluid from the brain of two-year-old brown bear Boki, at Wildwood Trust in Kent

Boki has put on 20kg since the surgery, a positive step, and has been enjoying enrichment such as cardboard boxes covered in honey.

After six weeks of rehabilitation and recovery, the team say he is almost back to his normal self.

Pictures taken on Monday show the brown bear, with part of his head shaved, moving around his enclosure.

Mr Pizzi, who also performed brain surgery on a black bear in 2013, said: "It is so wonderful to see that just over a month after surgery Boki is doing so well.

Boki had been suffering from seizures and related health issues due to hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)
Boki had been suffering from seizures and related health issues due to hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)

"Not only did he rapidly recover after the operation, climbing and playing only a few days later, but so far it appears to have been successful in improving his condition as we wean him off his medications.

"It is lovely to see after everyone's hard work, efforts and donations have got us this far."

Jon Forde, head of bears at Wildwood, pointed to Boki's "natural bear behaviour" as another positive sign.

Two-year-old brown bear Boki in his enclosure at the Wildwood Trust 
Two-year-old brown bear Boki in his enclosure at the Wildwood Trust 

"Little more than six weeks ago, one of our biggest concerns was that Boki would go into torpor and not survive the winter," he said.

"It was one of the main reasons that the surgery was so vital — we would not have been able to give him the medication or care he needed once he had gone into semi-hibernation.

"Now we're welcoming this positive step. It's been an absolute privilege to oversee his recovery since his surgery and to watch him gain weight and prepare for this next phase — it (is) all very natural bear behaviour."

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