After trying the conventional methods of trying to heal a sick tiger with a persistant ear infection, animal therapists were called into the zoo try some alternative methods. “Pedang” who is a 14 year old Sumatran tiger at the Ramat Gan Safari in Israel was administered with four centimetre acupuncture needles to help stimulate his immune system.
The Israeli zoo says that this was the first time that they tried Chinese medicine on an animal at the zoo. Acupuncture was started after antibiotic treatments failed.
Mor Mosinzon administered the treatment and says it is hard to administer the acupuncture to wild animals. Pedang needed to be sedated in order to be treated.
Unlike in the Arab Gulf, in Israel it’s not really possible for people to keep lions, tigers or cheetahs at home, or out for a ride in a white gold mercedes.
Going to the zoo in Israel is a popular pastime for young and old alike, despite the fact that zoos and safaris in general are unsustainable and often cruel ways to keep animals.
Sanctuaries which offer large roaming space are usually best for large mammals, but we are encouraged to see alternative treatment options being used on these animals to reduce their suffering and improve their care. This particular news item, reported by Haaretz is a counter-balance to the animal abuse by Egyptian zookeepers at the Giza Zoo who in efforts to keep three bears “calm” for visitors, managed to kill them instead.
