Immediate transport of medical equipment helped save an injured animal.
A young gorilla from an African reserve was seriously injured by poachers. Thanks to the immediate transport of medical equipment, British veterinarians managed to save the animal – although an amputation of part of the limb proved necessary.
The Special Services division of TNT Express is an expert in time-critical deliveries. A Cameroonian zoo turned to TNT precisely because of its unique experience. The company’s task was to arrange express transport of an X-ray machine for a team of veterinarians preparing for the surgery of a ten-year-old gorilla. The sensitive and valuable device required special transport conditions. The set was collected from a zoo in Warwickshire, UK, and transported to Yaounde, Cameroon, via Paris.
– Whether we are urgently delivering medical equipment to the Cameroonian jungle, or organs for transplant or blood, it is always a solution tailored to the individual needs of the client – says Alistair Cochrane, Managing Director of TNT Express Services UK & Ireland.
The lowland gorilla was seriously injured when hunters killed its mother in the Cameroonian jungle. It was rescued by Ape Action Africa – an organization protecting gorillas and chimpanzees. Three British veterinarians – including Sharon Redrobe, director of a British zoo – went to the site to operate on the animal’s injured limb. However, X-rays showed irreversible damage, so the veterinary team had to perform an amputation.
– The X-ray showed severe damage to the wrist, and shortly after starting the surgery, we made the difficult decision to amputate the limb above the elbow joint. We were able to determine the extent of the damage thanks to TNT, which delivered the necessary equipment – says Sharon Redrobe.
The gorilla is currently recovering.