In a first for the city’s Nehru Zoological Park, doctors removed a sizeable mammary tumour from a female leopard last week.
The 14-year-old leopard named Preeti, born in the zoo, was operated upon as doctors feared its growth could be malignant. The tumour was growing in size for the last two months. Experts who examined the big cat mainly by palpitating the growth, said it needed surgery.
“We have sent the tissue for examination to the Veterinary Biological and Research Institute as it could be cancerous. The animal is recovering from the surgery,” said zoo’s Assistant Veterinary Director M.A. Hakeem.
The surgery team comprising four surgeons removed the tumour weighing about 200 grams. Dr. Hakeem said Preeti’s case marks a first of its kind for the zoo.
The last time a tumour was removed was that of a rhinoceros about six years ago. The animal succumbed to cancer within two years of undergoing the surgery as the disease had spread.
In the case of Preeti, Dr. Hakeem said she did not show any other signs of sickness before or after the surgery.
Any further course of treatment for the big cat would be decided based on the findings of the tissue examination.
