Five Sisters Zoo have shared the news that they have had to amputate the leg of one of their female cheetahs.
Ashanti, who was rehoused at the West Calder Five Sisters Zoo in January 2022, had suffered a complex bone break in her ankle on the hind right leg.
Although the easy option would have been for the Zoo to refuse to take her in, they decided that they simply had to do all they could to ensure she had the best chance in life possible.
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Ashanti went through several surgeries and was visited by specialists but unfortunately she was still unable to walk and run normally.
This left vets with no other option but to amputate the leg after trying everything they could to save it.
Thankfully the big feline is now on the mend and is being monitored by staff at the zoo to ensure she continues to be happy and healthy.
In a post on their Facebook page, Five Sisters Zoo said: “Last week we had to make the difficult decision to amputate the hind right leg of one of our female cheetahs, Ashanti.
“When we agreed to rehome Ashanti at Five Sisters Zoo in January last year, we were aware that she already had a complicated bone break in her ankle. Although the easy decision would have been not to take her, we wanted to give her the best possible life.
“Despite surgery before arriving with us, and another two surgical operations by specialist vets here at the zoo, she was still unable to walk and run normally. After she deteriorated and needed ongoing treatment for pain, we had no option but to amputate her leg.
“She already seems a lot more comfortable and will continue to be monitored by the zoo’s specialist wildlife veterinarian to ensure she is happy and healthy.”
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