STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 GMT 20.11.24.
Story from Jam Press (Bear Surgery Recovery)
Pictured: A video grab of Boki after having brain surgery.
Paw-some recovery! Boki the bear bounces back from brain surgery after scoffing honey treats
A young bear, that became the first to have life-saving brain surgery, has now nearly fully recovered.
Boki underwent a five-hour operation performed by world-leading veterinary surgeon, Romain Pizzi.
It was the last hope for the cub who had been suffering from debilitating seizures.
Following a diagnosis of hydrocephalus - or fluid on the brain - keepers and veterinary experts feared he would not survive the winter without the operation after his medication stopped having the desired impact.
But after six weeks of recovery and rehabilitation, the team at Wildwood Trust, near Canterbury, in Kent, says Boki is almost back to his normal self.
And he has even put weight on thanks to honey-covered treats, as reported by What's The Jam.
Boki is now 20kg heavier than he was six weeks ago, putting him at around 140kg.
He has been enjoying a lot of enrichment - such as toys he’s been gifted, ice lollies made with hidden nuts and berries and cardboard boxes covered with honey, which has been keeping his mind active and distracting him from scratching his surgical wounds.
Mark Habben, Director of Zoo Operations at Wildwood Trust, said: “Six weeks seems like such a short time when you think of how far Boki has come since the day of his surgery.
"For the team who have shown such unrivalled dedication, caring for him day and night, it’s probably felt a lot longer than 42 days.
“Timescales aside 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 - albeit a slightly heavier version.”
Romain, who waived his fee to perform the surgery for the Kent conservation charity, fitted a