Victor the polar bear takes a trip to the dentist with a little help from the fire brigade
Victor the polar bear from the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster has been assessed and treated by vets with a little help from firefighters from South Yorkshire Fire Brigade.
The 18-year old polar bear, who weighs 530 kilograms, was able to see vets with dental expertise with a little assistance from the local fire brigade. The colossal animal, which is the UK’s oldest polar bear, was lifted using a cargo net in a procedure, which had been planned with military precision. Staff at the park wanted to carry out an examination after they spotted that Victor’s canine tooth looked abnormal. They set about planning how they could tend to him, taking a month to strategically plan his appointment.
Eleven firefighters, keepers, and vets took part in the operation, which allowed the veterinary team to have a good look at Victor’s teeth, and give him a general health check. Simon Marsh, animal collections manager, said that the team had noticed that one of Victor’s canine teeth was discoloured, and vets wanted to take a closer look.
During his check, vets carried out a series of tests, and the initial findings show that Victor is in good shape. He has recovered well, and everyone is happy that the operation went to plan.
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