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Tiger
Suffers Setback in Recovery, Euthanized
04/16/07
Sulley, a 400-pound tiger
that suffered from severe malformations of his front legs as a
result of abuse as a tiger cub, was euthanized on Saturday, April
14, when he succumbed to post surgical complications. University
of Missouri-Columbia veterinarians had attempted to save the
tiger by performing a 6-hour surgery during which the surgeons
corrected the abnormality in his right leg. The surgery, the
first of its type to be performed on a tiger, was conducted on
March 21. Without the surgery to correct his bone deformities,
Sulley's condition would have continued to deteriorate.
Sulley's weight and size contributed to failure of the
orthopaedic hardware during the recovery period resulting in the
need to euthanize him humanely.
"The staff of the
Wild Animal Sanctuary wish to convey their sincerest gratitude to
the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary School, the
surgeons and their dedicated medical team, the Colorado
veterinarians who lent support and aftercare, the medical supply
companies who donated time, talent and materials, and to the
Sanctuary's dedicated supporters, who make possible the rescue of
abused animals like Sulley," said Pat Craig, executive
director of the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Keenesburg, Colo.
"We're deeply saddened by the death of Sulley, who was a
much-loved resident with us for more than two years. Every
possible option was considered by the Sanctuary and Sulley's
doctors in an effort to save his life."
"In
this case, the bad that man did could not be overcome by the good
that man tried to do," said Jimi Cook, associate professor
of small animal surgery and one of the surgeons who treated
Sulley. "I think the sad end to his sad story should
heighten the awareness and education it brings. Sulley's case
highlights the need for prevention of this problem even more
since even the best treatments we have could not overcome his
former abuse. I think it is important that we keep telling this
story to make people aware of the seriousness of animal neglect
and abuse. Support groups such as the Sanctuary and Mizzou's
Tigers for Tigers should be commended and supported for their
efforts to prevent and stop this abuse."
Cook,
director of the Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, was part of
the MU surgical team that included Derek Fox, assistant professor
of small animal surgery and associate director of the COL, and
James Tomlinson, professor of small animal orthopaedic surgery.
Before being rescued by the Wild Animal Sanctuary, Sulley
and four other tiger cubs were bought by an exhibitor from a
breeder in Texas. The exhibitor charged up to $25 at fairs and
carnivals for pictures with the tiger cubs. Although this
practice is legal if the exhibitor is licensed by the USDA, many
of these operations have poorly trained personnel who do not give
the correct nourishment or care to the cubs. Tiger cubs are often
taken away from their mothers when they are as young as 10 days.
Exhibitors replace tigers that are too big with cubs.
When
Sulley was 12 weeks old, the maximum age allowed by the USDA for
these types of operations, he was returned to his base camp with
his siblings. A man not licensed by the USDA but willing to try
and make a profit anyway took the five cubs. Living out of his
car with five tiger cubs, he drove to New Orleans and displayed
the cubs in parking lots. This practice did not last long,
however. After one of the cubs died from being left in the hot
car too long, and another died from unknown circumstances, the
man was arrested for animal cruelty.
When the local
Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confiscated the
tigers, they notified The Wild Animal Sanctuary, where staff
members made arrangements to rescue them and take them back to
Colorado. All three of the remaining cubs were malnourished and
had varying stages of leg deformities. The sanctuary's
veterinarian returned the cubs to a carnivore milk formula diet.
Two cubs¿ legs began to improve and straighten with their
next growth spurt, but Sulley's legs did not. The Wild Animal
Sanctuary contacted Cook through Dr. Erick Egger of Colorado.
Egger was familiar with MU's expertise in arthroscopy and
correction of similar leg deformities in dogs and asked if Fox,
Tomlinson and Cook could perform the surgery.
"Sulley's
bright and indomitable spirit has forged a bond among those who
strove to save his life," Craig said. "The hope is that
Sulley's story will be an inspiration for many to join together
to work tirelessly to educate Americans about the tragic plight
suffered by thousands of captive exotic animals, and to ensure
that future generations of these magnificent creatures can live
in peace and dignity, as they were born to do."
"Sulley
was a magnificent member of an often mistreated and misunderstood
species," Fox said. "He and thousands of others like
him in this country deserve better than this. Hopefully, his
story will awaken people to the plight of privately owned,
captive wild animals that are so often exploited and suffer at
the hands of human entertainment for monetary gain."
Mizzou is home to Mizzou Tigers for Tigers, the nation's
first tiger mascot conservation program. Faculty, staff, students
and alumni from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural
Resources, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, College of
Veterinary Medicine, School of Journalism, Department of
Biological Sciences, Department of Environmental Studies,
International Center, University Affairs, Alumni Relations,
Development and Intercollegiate Athletics are working together to
raise awareness about the endangered status of the University's
mascot, while raising funds to aid in wild tiger research and
conservation.
Related article:
http://www.sflorg.com/sciencenews/scn032207_01.html
Source:
University of Missouri-Columbia
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