Endangered lion treated for ear ache at London Zoo

Bhanu is part of a breeding programme for endangered species

A team of specialist vets from across the country descended on London Zoo to treat an endangered lion for an ear ache.

Bhanu, an Asiatic lion, required the procedure because he had suffered a series of painful infections in one ear which had not responded to drops.

The treatment involved putting the 13-year-old under general anaesthetic so his ears could be cleaned and a miniature camera safely fed down his ear canal.

The zoo said when he woke up afterwards he was soon "prowling around" again.

Bhanu's treatment brought specialist vets from across the country together

Bhanu is under a long-term medical plan because a scan revealed his repeated ear infections were likely to be due to his unusually narrow ear canal.

As a result he had to be placed under anaesthetic so his ears could be cleaned out, meaning that medication could therefore reach the source of the infections.

London Zoo vet Stefan Saverimuttu said Bhanu's comfort was a top priority for the team.

"We filled his cosy indoor den with soft straw in preparation for the procedure, and thanks to expert training from London Zoo’s zookeepers and veterinary nurses, Bhanu chose to calmly present his leg so we could administer the general anaesthetic," he said.

Bhanu, who weighs 24 stone (174kg), is a member of the European-wide breeding programme for Endangered Asiatic lions.

The zoo said its team would continue to monitor Bhanu’s ear over the coming months and another ear clean would take place next year.