Two-and-a-half-year-old Sumatran Tiger, Ketambe, is recovering well after undergoing surgery to remove a small intestinal obstruction caused by a piece of bone.
Keepers noticed Ketambe was a little off his food and not his usual energetic self. After a couple of days of monitoring, the veterinary team decided to anaesthetise him for a closer look.
“We brought Ketambe up to our Animal Health Centre for a full examination, including bloodwork and x-rays,” said Dr David McLelland, Acting Senior Veterinarian at Zoos SA. “The x-rays showed a piece of bone lodged in his intestine, which was likely causing discomfort and preventing normal digestion.”
Ketambe was taken to surgery and the bone was successfully removed. The team were pleased to see the tissue around the bone was still healthy, meaning keepers and vets had caught the issue early enough to avoid further complications. “If the obstruction had been left untreated for a few more days, there’s a chance the affected section of intestine could have started to lose blood supply, and Ketambe could have become quite unwell,” Dr McLelland said. “We’re really glad we were able to act early.”
Since surgery, Ketambe has made a steady recovery, and is already back to eating enthusiastically. Keepers have temporarily removed bones from his diet while he heals, but plan to reintroduce them soon as part of his natural feeding routine.
“Bones are an important part of a tiger’s diet – they help keep their teeth healthy, support digestion and provide enrichment,” Dr McLelland explained. “We’ll just be keeping a closer eye on how he eats, as Ketambe does tend to rush his food more than the others.”
Ketambe, who was one of three cubs born at Adelaide Zoo in December 2022, has grown into a striking and energetic young tiger. While he continues to rest behind the scenes, visitors can look forward to seeing him back on habitat soon.
Sumatran Tigers are critically endangered, with fewer than 400 individuals remaining in the wild. Ketambe is part of a regional breeding program, with an important role to play in helping to secure the future of the species.
