Jamran the sun bear gets a visit from the dentist in Perth
Jamran, a sun bear who lives at Perth Zoo, received a visit from the dentist recently. The 17-year old sun bear, who was born in Cambodia, was rescued by the Free the Bears centre after being trapped by poachers before he arrived in Western Australia.
Jamran sustained a significant injury and lost a toe after stumbling into a snare, but thankfully, he was nursed back to health by volunteers at the Free the Bears centre and eventually, he ended up in Perth. He now lives at Perth Zoo with one other sun bear, and is one of the most popular residents. When Jamran first arrived in 2007, he was very nervous and anxious around keepers and vets, but over the course of time, he has got used to the team, and he is now very happy and much more tolerant.
Jamran enjoys good health, but as sun bears are partial to sweet foods, they are prone to tartar build-up. To prevent problems like decay and gum disease, keepers organise regular visits from the dentist for the sun bears. Recently, Jamran was treated to a scale and polish treatment to remove plaque and tartar and give his pearly whites a good polish.
Dr Simone Vitali, senior vet at the zoo, explained that there is a risk of dental problems linked to diet, and stated that Jamran is due to start a new diet, which will keep his teeth in check.
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