Brown Bear Boki Shows Strong Recovery After Brain Operation

Keepers at Wildwood Trust in Kent report that Boki the brown bear is experiencing a “remarkable recovery” six weeks following life-saving brain surgery. They expressed delight that the two-year-old cub is nearly “back to his normal self,” noting the procedure had been considered the “last hope” for the animal. The surgical procedure involved veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi implanting a stent in Boki’s brain. This device was intended to facilitate the drainage of surplus fluid, which was thought to be responsible for the bear’s severe seizures. Mark Habben, Wildwood Trust’s director of zoo operations, stated: “We’re in awe of the progress he’s made and remain incredibly grateful to Romain and everyone who has helped us get Boki back to the charismatic, care-free bear we first met nearly two years ago.” Boki was adopted by Wildwood Trust from Port Lympne Safari Park, located near Hythe, in December 2022. A Wildwood spokesperson highlighted a positive development since the surgery: “A positive sign post surgery is that Boki is now 20kg (44lbs) heavier than he was six weeks ago, putting him at around 140kg (308lbs).” Prior to this, the team had observed Boki becoming less active and exhibiting indications of entering torpor (semi-hibernation) for the initial time. Boki’s procedure marked the first recorded instance of a brown bear undergoing brain surgery. The trust opted for the operation after Boki was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the brain. Dr. Pizzi commented that the surgery “appears to have been successful in improving his condition.” This marked Dr. Pizzi’s second triumph in bear brain surgery, his first being on a black bear with hydrocephalus in Asia in 2013.