A female zebra at the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens is to undergo surgery after tests found an obstruction in its digestive tract, the Department of National Zoological Gardens said.
The animal is one of two female zebras at the zoo. It began showing signs of illness on 29 September, and samples and a scan later confirmed the blockage, the department said.
Director General R. C. Rajapaksha said zoo veterinary officers had been treating the zebra, but its condition did not improve.
On 8 October the animal was examined by Dr Dammika Perera, a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine who specialises in equine species. On his advice, the zoo’s veterinary officers recommended surgery after finding that medication alone could not clear the obstruction.
The department said further treatment would follow specialist veterinary advice. It said it would issue updates on the zebra’s condition as necessary.
