Surgery completed for Tbilisi Zoo elephant, filmed by BBC

Veterinarians at the Tbilisi Zoo have completed a long-awaited surgery of an elephant at the venue, with the four-hour medical effort filmed for a BBC series and followed eagerly on local social media.

Grandi, a male at the Zoo was treated by invited professionals who worked to remove his broken tusk and safeguard the animal’s health.

Initiated around 11 AM local time, the surgery came to its conclusion by 3 PM, with the zoo releasing footage to social media followers throughout.

Grandi photographed at Tbilisi Zoo. Photo: Mzia Sharashidze/Tbilisi Zoo.

The involved professionals are now waiting for the animal to safely wake up from the induced anaesthesia, a phase of animal surgeries often tied to complications.

The Tbilisi venue said the surgery work had been carried out by South African specialist Gerhard Steenkamp and anaesthesiologist Adrian Tordiffe.

The medical effort also saw Marjo Hoedemaker, Tbilisi Zoo mentor from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, travel to the Georgian capital.

Grandi underwent an initial surgery for removal of his two broken tusks in 2014. Due to complications, veterinarians only managed to remove one tusk. Bringing the elephant back on its feet was successfully achieved hours later.

A deadly flood in Tbilisi in June 2015 delayed further treatment of the elephant, with the second surgery finally carried out four years later.

Wednesday’s effort received international attention through its filming by a BBC channel crew, for the broadcaster’s new series Big Animal Surgery.

Presented by Liz Bonnin, the programme takes viewers to locations around the world where veterinarians treat animals.

It aims to bring a “unique insight into the wonders of natural engineering hidden inside big animal bodies”, said a summary from the British broadcaster.