Wild idea: Sahebrao, the tiger hurt by poacher in India, to get ‘world first’ fake paw
International effort underway to fit animal with prothesis after it lost toes in a trap six years ago and has been in pain ever since
An international team of surgeons have started measuring an Indian tiger for an artificial paw, thought to be the first attempt in the world to fit one of the animals with a prosthesis.
The eight-year-old male named Sahebrao was caught in a poacher’s trap along with his brother six years ago. The older sibling died, but Sahebrao was rescued and taken to the Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Science University for treatment.
Sahebrao arrived unconscious and suffering from renal failure. He recovered, but part of his left paw had become gangrenous in the steel trap and required amputation. He was moved to a zoo and then an animal rescue centre in Nagpur city, central Maharashtra, where he earned a reputation as an ornery and aggressive animal.
Last year, Indian orthopaedic surgeon Sushrut Babhulkar visited the animal rescue centre after learning it was caring for the 200kg tiger, which the centre claims is Asia’s largest in captivity.
“He was like a royal king, truly magnificent,” Babhulkar said.
He said the animal approached the edge of its cage where he was standing with his family and began growling and lifting its injured paw.
“All accompanying me got frightened and ran away but I was frozen,” he said.
The surgeon, who is the chief of a centre for joint reconstruction surgery in Nagpur, said he believed the animal was growling from pain, not fear or anger.