Boki during one of his MRI scans.Boki the bear bounces back from brain op.Credit: Wildwood Trust
Brown bear Boki, who underwent life-saving brain surgery last October, has shaken off his winter snooze and bounded into spring looking “happy and healthy”, his keepers at Wildwood Trust, near Canterbury, have revealed.
A stent to save a bear
Last autumn, the young bear’s carers noticed something was amiss: Boki was suffering from seizures. Scans soon confirmed a case of hydrocephalus – a dangerous build-up of fluid on the brain. In a marathon six-hour operation, veterinary surgeons fitted a stent linking Boki’s brain to his abdomen to drain away excess fluid, taking the pressure off.
“We haven’t seen any negative signs from him. All his personality traits are still there – he’s the same old Boki we love,” said head of bears at Wildwood, Jon Forde in a statement. “He’s looking brilliant, happy and healthy,” he added.
Growing pains
Boki, who just experienced his first-ever hibernation, awakened with a lighter figure – about 30kg (66lbs) less than before. But staff suspect he was busy growing while asleep: “We think it’s because he’s grown while he was asleep, so a lot of energy has been used for that,” explained Forde. “Our first job will be to put some weight back on him.”
From rejected bear cub to rising star
Boki arrived at Wildwood Trust in December 2022 from Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve, where he was sadly rejected by his mother. Once adopted, he was schooled in ‘bear necessities’ by Wildwood’s team and introduced to two seasoned residents, Fluff and Scruff. Now that he’s resumed his playful antics, keepers are carefully managing a reintroduction. “This will involve boisterous play, which we want to minimise in these early stages post-surgery,” cautioned head of zoo operations, Mark Habben.
A miraculous transformation
For those keeping watch, Boki’s journey from a life-threatening condition to an active, inquisitive bear has been “remarkable,” said Habben. “He’s back to being the Boki we first met. It’s like he’s forgotten that he even had an operation.”
Early days, brighter future
Although the signs are positive, Wildwood staff remain cautious. As Boki’s health continues to improve, the focus turns to ensuring he regains weight and recovers fully before diving headfirst into more “bearish” adventures with Fluff and Scruff. For now, Boki is off to a roaring start – and that’s the bear truth.
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