CHENNAI: A rosy pelican at an aquatic aviary has made a remarkable recovery after undergoing a complex and rare surgery to repair a broken wing. The bird was initially observed with a drooping wing, prompting a thorough examination. Vets at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, popularly known as Vandalur Zoo, diagnosed a complete and compound fracture of the left humerus, the bone that connects the wing to the body and supports its weight.
Repairing a humerus fracture in a heavy bird like the pelican, weighing around 6 kg, is a challenging task. Bird bones, especially in larger species, are thinner compared to those of mammals and reptiles, making surgery more complex. Despite these challenges, the veterinary team led by assistant surgeon K Sridhar opted for an internal fixation surgery using a modified rush pinning technique. This method involved carefully inserting pins into the bone under general anaesthesia, along with applying a special collagen sheath to aid healing.
Zoo authorities told TNIE that the fracture was observed around 4 months back. Although optimal conditions are provided, such injuries tend to happen.
Sridhar told TNIE: "I could not find any reference internationally of people conducting such surgery on Rosy Pelican with a successful outcome. There were no scientific reports to draw confidence from. So, that made our job more difficult, but we are happy that the surgery was conducted successfully and the bird made a full recovery."
After the surgery, the pelican was placed in an enclosure with a water body for five days. However, during this period, the bird did not eat and was maintained on fluids and post-operative medications. Recognising the bird’s need for social interaction and a more natural environment, the team decided to move the pelican to an enclosure with a larger water body and introduced another rosy pelican as a companion.
The change yielded results with the pelican beginning eating and the same day it was moved to a new enclosure. The surgical wound healed rapidly, even though the bird was allowed to be in the water. Just two weeks after surgery, the fracture showed significant signs of healing, evidenced by the formation of new bone tissue, or callus.
Three months later, the fracture had fully healed, and the surgical implants were removed. The pelican regained the ability to flap its wing and fly short distances. "Now, the bird has recovered fully and we have released it back into the aviary," Sridhar said.
Manikanda Prabhu, Assistant Director of Vandalur Zoo, told TNIE that the veterinary care at the zoo is one of the best in the country. The hospital has been upgraded recently with state-of-art facilities.