Rhino undergoes world's 1st surgery for fractured leg at England’s Knowsley Safari

A rhino in England underwent the world's first surgery for a fractured leg. 

The young resident rhino is part of England’s Knowsley Safari. 

Safari officials said they noticed the white southern rhino, Amara, walking with a "mysterious limp" in 2022. The rhino weighs more than 1,700 pounds. 

"Amara’s initial treatment involved rest and pain relief. However, after further investigation, we brought in equine surgeons from the University of Liverpool for an advanced diagnosis. Using radiographs, the team discovered a rare and unusual fracture in her ulna, located near the wrist joint. To our surprise, no documentation or case studies existed worldwide for a rhino with this type of injury," park officials said in a news release. 

A team of more than 10 people, including veterinarians, specialist surgeons, and anesthetists, put together a plan and performed "five hours of intricate keyhole surgery inside Amara’s enclosure" while the animal was under anesthesia, Knowsley Safari said.

Amara was then fitted with a cast and spent time recovering inside her enclosure with her mother.

Amara’s cast was finally removed in Ma., Knowsley Safari said that 27 weeks had passed between the initial fracture and her recovery.