OPERATION AT ZOO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5197, 31 October 1927, Page 3

OPERATION AT ZOO.

CHLOROFORMING A TIGER.

IN-GROWING CLAW REMOVED.

Rajah, the London Zoo’s famous tiger—the handsome and unusually friendly big cat who has been stroked by thousands of zoo visitors in the last six or seven years—was) chloroformed and operated, upon recently (according to the; London Daily News). The operation was the removal of an in-growing claw which was piercing the flesh of his left paw and causing (him pain. The big chloroform box in which sick animals on occasion are anaesthetised in order to be ciired of their troubles) had stood in Rajah’s sleeping detn for some time, so tlhat he could get accustomed to It and over-, come all his suspicions. Then Hopgood the head keeper—with whom Rajah Ss on the best of terms —persuaded Rajah to go into the chloroform chamber and lie down. The door was securely clamped, the .box was wheeled to the front of Rajah’s cage, the chloroform was pumped in gently, and in a few minutes Rajah dropped quietly into unconsciousness. The door was lifted an inch or two, and I)r. Vevers, superintendent pf the zoo, clipped the offending claw off neatly and gently. A few moments later Rajah recovered consciousness, walked slowly out of the box, a little bit dfiized, perhaps,, and went straight into* his sleeping den for a pleasant nap.- The 1 operation was quitQ a success, and Rajah’s walk soon showed signs tfhat the pain was lesst.