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British vets save endangered chimpanzee in Africa
Dr Redrobe and Dr Smith operating on Manka
Surgery gets underway, (l-r) Dr Sharon Redrobe, CEO Twycross Zoo, Stephanie O'Brien, volunteer vet, Kinley Smith, surgeon Pride Veterinary Centre.

Sharon Redrobe and Kinley Smith conduct challenging surgery

British vets have battled high temperatures and humid conditions to conduct life-saving surgery on an endangered chimpanzee in Africa.

Nine-year-old Manka broke her leg after a fall at a forest sanctuary in Cameroon, and required specialist treatment.

On hearing the news, renowned veterinary surgeon Sharon Redrobe and Kinley Smith of Pride Veterinary Centre, Derby, flew out to the sanctuary - Ape Action Africa - to conduct an operation.

Over the course of the procedure, however, it became clear that Manka’s leg was severely infected and would need to be amputated in order for her to survive.

No surgery is without risk, but in the African jungle those risks are magnified. Surgery is performed in the sanctuary’s classroom, fly-swatters stand-in for nurses, and a wheelbarrow is used instead of a gurney. High temperatures and humidity also make working conditions unbearable.

“With surgery underway, it became immediately clear that something was wrong,” explains Dr. Smith. “Manka’s bones should have been hard but instead they were soft and clearly infected."

He adds: "Even in the hospital back in Derby, saving her leg would have been a challenge. But in the rainforest we were in a race to save her life. Our only hope was to amputate her leg above the infection.”

Despite the working conditions, Dr. Redrobe remains hopeful about the outcome of Manka’s surgery.
CEO of Twycross Zoo and chair of Trustees for Ape Action Africa, she is a renowned expert in the care and treatment of endangered wild animals.

“I am delighted that Twycross Zoo can support Ape Action Africa and I am very grateful to Kinley for helping to perform such challenging surgery at short notice,” she said.

“Despite complications during surgery, Manka recovered well after the three-hour operation and was pain free, walking and eating the same day.”

Image (C) Kinley Smith

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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA publishes Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice

The BSAVA has added a small animal nutrition advice booklet to its series of BSAVA guides.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice offers a resource for veterinary professionals to provide appropriate nutrition for animals. As well as maintaining the wellbeing of healthy pets, the guide explores how nutritional requirements change in times of illness and disease.

The guide is divided into five sections, which explore the importance of nutritional assessment; diet types; feeding at different life stages; feeding for specific situations; and feeding for specific diseases. Online resources are also in the BSAVA Library including client handouts and videos.

It is designed to be suitable for referencing, in-depth case planning and team training sessions.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice can be purchased online from the BSAVA store.