Rescued Tiger Gets Root Canal, Saves 7cm Teeth in UK

A rescued tiger named Aqua is eating comfortably again after specialists saved his two giant canine teeth with root canal treatment at Noah's Ark Zoo Park near Bristol.

The 22-stone tiger was spotted struggling to eat by his keepers at the Somerset zoo, where he's lived since October. Each of his top canine teeth measures nearly 3 inches long, and both needed urgent dental work to prevent further damage.

Dr. Peter Kertesz, a specialist who has treated about 300 big cats, drilled deep into Aqua's teeth during the two-hour procedure. He removed decayed pulp and filled the cavities, working with equipment specially designed for large felines.

The operation required six staff members to lift the anesthetized tiger onto the operating table and keep his jaw safely open. "While your tooth might have a 10mm root, in this case it's about 80mm," Kertesz explained.

Aqua's journey to this Somerset sanctuary began nine years ago at the Poland-Belarus border. Traffickers had crammed him and nine other tigers into a horse box, where they were discovered "covered in faeces" and living in terrible conditions.

He spent several years recovering at a rehabilitation center in Spain before finding his permanent home in the UK. Now estimated to be around 7 years old, Aqua faces dental challenges common among rescued big cats with traumatic pasts.

The Bright Side

The zoo reports that Aqua is already back on his feet and acting like his usual self. Thanks to the successful procedure, he should be able to use his teeth normally for years to come.

His transformation from a suffering victim of illegal wildlife trafficking to a thriving tiger receiving world-class veterinary care shows what's possible when sanctuaries and specialists work together. Aqua's story reminds us that second chances can happen, even for the planet's most magnificent creatures.