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[gregory nahas <lettherebemonkeys AT yahoo.com>]

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_690651.html?menu=news.wierdworld.animaltales

A gorilla who underwent a pioneering cataract
operation to restore her sight has undergone a second
procedure to give her the full use of both eyes.

Romina, a 21-year-old lowland gorilla who lives at
Bristol Zoo, was born with congenital cataracts -
cloudy lenses - in both eyes, leaving her with minimal
peripheral vision.

In April, she became the first adult gorilla in Europe
to have one of her cataracts removed and replaced with
a silicon lens and now she has successfully undergone
a second operation to replace the cataract in her
other eye.

The second procedure, which was carried out at the
University of Bristol's Veterinary Hospital, means she
can now see clearly through both eyes for the first
time in her life.

Vets at Bristol Zoo are now hoping she will be able to
breed successfully with her 18-year-old potential mate
Bongo.

Sharon Redrobe, Bristol Zoo's vet, said: "Romina made
such a remarkable recovery from her first operation
that we thought it was important to improve her vision
further and give her the chance to interact more
effectively with her surroundings and companions.

"Romina is part of an international breeding
programme, so we hope that now she can see her
breeding group she may be encouraged to act."

Story filed: 06:00 Wednesday 16th October 2002


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