After rare jaw surgery, 7-month-old lion cub ready to roar in the wild in Gujarat

RAJKOT: In a first, a lion cub with a jaw fracture successfully recovered after it was operated upon four months ago. Doctors from College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Junagadh, who performed the rare surgery declared the seven-month-old cub fit for hunting and ready to be released into the wild.
This was probably the first of its kind surgery performed on a carnivorous animal and that too on a feline.
According to Junagadh forest officials, the cub was three-month-old and very sick when found. On close examination, it was revealed that it had a jaw fracture because of which it was not able to eat. However, the field staff could not ascertain how the cub's jaw got fractured. It is assumed that the cub could have tried to chew on something hard or a barbed wire, resulting in the injury.
The cub was taken for treatment to Jasadhar animal care centre after it was rescued from the Paniya range of Gir (east) wildlife circle, where it was kept under observation till it recovered.
Forest officials said that the doctors fitted wiring in the jaw. A few days later after the wounds healed, the stitches were removed.
Talking to TOI, Vaibhavsinh Dodiya, assistant professor of the veterinary college, said, "Initially, the cub was not able to chew raw meat so we had to feed it ground meat and eggs in a semi-liquid form. After a few weeks, we started giving it small pieces of meat without bones. We continued monitoring its condition by trying to give it harder meat pieces to eat. Slowly, the cub started chewing raw meat properly."
The veterinary doctors on Sunday took an x-ray of the cub's jaw and found it had healed completely. "The cub has fully recovered now and will be able to hunt on its own. We have also got approval to release it into the forest," said one of the veterinary doctors who treated the cub.
"Initially, when the cub was small it was cooperating. But as it grew bigger and the fracture started healing, it has become difficult to contain and examine it," the doctor added. Deputy conservator of forest, Gir (east) division, Rajdeepsinh Jhala said, "We will first have to identify the group of lions to which the cub belongs. Once released, we will observe the cub's activity for a few days till the group accepts it."