Al Ain Zoo has successfully completed a surgery on one of its Arabian caracals, a species declining in the wild throughout Arabia, to restore the animal’s health following a mystery illness.

Following concerns over the caracal losing weight despite a healthy appetite, an exploratory laparotomy was conducted to examine the caracal’s stomach and digestive system. After conducting an initial diagnostic procedure, the zoo’s team of experienced veterinarians, assisted by Dr. Muzhar Iqbal, an internationally renowned veterinary surgeon from the Central Veterinary Hospital in Al Wathba, found the presence of a small foreign body in the small intestine as well as enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen.

Commenting on the surgery, Dr. Arshad Toosy, Manager Veterinary Operations at Al Ain Zoo, said;
“We are happy to announce that following this delicate surgery, the caracal is in much better health and is on the path to recovery. Some tissue biopsy was taken during the surgery and was sent to a laboratory in the UK to understand the underlying cause of its condition. Al Ain Zoo prides itself in having a team of veterinary experts on site as well as strong relationships with local partners and international institutions to ensure that we provide only the best health care for all our animals.”

Although the surgery was a success, the team observed that the spleen and the mesenteric lymph nodes of the caracal were enlarged, and thus samples were taken from each organ to be sent to a laboratory in the UK for examination. The veterinary team at Al Ain Zoo is now in the process of designing a treatment plan in line with the tests and findings derived from the UK laboratory, while the team of experts at home continue to meticulously monitor and care for the recovering of the animal.

Arabian caracals are slender yet muscular cats, characterised by having long legs and a short tail. These fiercely territorial wild cats inhabit Western Asia, South Asia and Africa. The Arabian caracal is uncommon in captivity and is part of Al Ain Zoo’s conservation work on Arabian and arid land carnivores.

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