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.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
