Boki Bear undergoes brain operation in Kent
The two year-old is having pioneering surgery
Last updated 9th Oct 2024
A two-year old bear will have pioneering brain surgery in Kent later.
Boki has been suffering seizures, and MRI scans show he has a build up of fluid inside his skull.
Boki lives at the Wildwood Trust, near Canterbury and was born to parents rescued from a Spanish circus.
The Trust said: "We noticed back in April that Boki appeared to be having seizures and was not quite himself. After having an MRI, we've found that Boki is suffering from hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).
"Whilst his condition was initially being managed with medication, this is no longer having the same effect so our next option is to perform surgery to drain the fluid from Boki's brain and give him a much better chance at a healthier, enriched life.
"After consulting with medical experts and considering at length the ethics of this surgery, we believe wholeheartedly this is the best chance of providing a healthy and enriched life for Boki. We're working with specialist wildlife surgeon Romain Pizzi, the only person to have performed brain surgery on a bear before, who is the best possible person for the job and an absolute world leader in his field."
You can catch up with some of Boki's history here: