Rhino Is on Her Feet Again After a World-First Surgery

Meet Amara, an adorable southern white rhino who got a rare chance at a more agile life: The nearly 2-year-old is the first in her species to undergo surgery to repair a fractured ulna.
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Earlier this year, Amara’s carers at the Knowsley Safari in England noticed the typically playful rhino was having trouble getting around, with a “mysterious limp” in her right leg. Knowing something wasn’t right, they called in a team of equine surgeons and discovered the unusual fracture near her wrist joint, an injury that had yet to be documented in rhinos.
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Despite a lack of precedence, the surgeons applied their expertise from treating horses to perform a five-hour keyhole operation on Amara’s leg. David Stack, who was involved in the surgery and recovery process, said it was “unlike anything we’ve experienced previously.”
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“Treating Amara has been a truly groundbreaking veterinary journey incorporating many firsts which we will now document should another animal team encounter similar scenarios in the future,” Stack shared in a statement. Now, after wearing a cast for nearly seven months, Amara is up on her feet again, exploring the world with mom Meru by her side — and forever leaving her mark on the veterinary world.