Looking back... "The Tiger who came for Tea (and an operation.)"

Website Editor • May 28, 2019

We had a look through our archives recently and found these amazing set of photos...

28th May 2019

This photo shows (now retired vet) Mr Mark Furber operating on a Tiger that was from the old Southam Zoo! We can also see our current practice manager Linda Reece in the background when she was originally nursing here.

We understand that the Tiger had a hernia and needed surgery. We remember Mark telling us that really, there was nothing different about the surgery when compared to operating on a regular pet cat! It was the anaesthesia that was difficult...

We can't remember the exact date, but we think it must have been around 35 years ago.

Southam Zoo?Southam Zoo?

Southam Zoo was a small holding that ran from 1966 to 1985 just outside the town on the Daventry Road. You can read more about this on a good newspaper article that was written a few years ago. https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/looking-back-in-time-at-southam-zoo-8610/

What about zoo work now?

Most zoo work now is a very specialised area and there are generally specific vets that work in this field. Vets can do further studies into Zoo Medicine and Surgery and are often attached to specific zoos.

Also regular vets with specialities in particular areas (such as orthopaedics, reproduction, ophthalmology etc) can often be brought in and work alongside the zoo specialists. Usually the most difficulties come about from the handling, sedation, anaesthesia (and the waking up) and the aftercare! Recently, eye vet Jim Carter worked with the zoo vets at Paignton Zoo to help remove a cataract in the Elephant!

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