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Published 23:18 IST, October 11th 2019

Tiger in Nagpur to become the first one to get an Artificial Limb

A male tiger named Sahebrao in Gorewada Rescue Centre at Nagpur is about to get an artificial limb in a first-ever prosthesis for a big cat in the world.

Reported by: Avantika Shukla
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A tiger in Gorewada Rescue Centre at Nagpur is about to get an artificial limb in a first-ever prosthesis for a big cat in the world. On October 10, a group of doctors including a limb expert from the University of Leeds, Dr Peter Giannoudis carried out an operation on the animal. As per reports, he is expected to get an artificial limb in the next four weeks if things go right, making him the first tiger to have it. A Nagpur surgeon Dr Sushrut Babhulkar adopted the tiger called Sahebrao in the year 2016. Since then, he is putting efforts to see if there is any possibility that the tiger could have a prosthetic procedure to fix an artificial limb. 

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Sahebrao was rescued in 2012

The male tiger named Sahebrao was rescued in the year 2012 from a poacher in Gondmohadi village of the Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. The tiger has been living in the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Gorewada Zoo, Nagpur since then. The injuries which he got at that time developed into an infection because of which some portion of the injured leg had to be removed by surgical methods. Sahebrao since then has been limping and in recent times, his pain increased so much that he used to cry in pain with each step he took. 

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Radiographic study of his limb was done in February

According to reports, a radiographic study of his limb was done in the month of February this year. Babhulkar said that he wishes to see Sahebrao walk normally, like any other human who gets a prosthetic done. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Nitin Kakodkar, Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra’s Managing Director Rambabu and officials supervised the operation which was done on Wednesday where Sahebrao was tranquillized and operated upon for neuroma and arthritis, reasons causing the suffering. The authorities have taken all the necessary steps for the upcoming surgery. Experts from IIT Mumbai, and AO Foundation, Germany were consulted for the artificial limb. 

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(With inputs from agencies)

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20:04 IST, October 11th 2019