Our team of vets have operated on an aquatic monitor lizard (Varanus salvator), which had suffered a deep wound on its tail. The specimen has been taken to the veterinary clinic in the park to undergo surgery on its tail and try to heal the wound it had on it.

To perform the surgery, the animal was anaesthetised and its vital signs were monitored in order to check its condition at all times during the operation. Afterwards, an exhaustive treatment was carried out because the wound was open and the area was sutured, after having to amputate part of the tail. In order to avoid possible infections, antibiotics and painkillers were used to treat the pain.

Antibiotics will be given every three days for a month until the monitor lizard is fully recovered. During this time, the specimen will remain under observation while the temperature of the clinical space is kept under constant control, as it should be around 28 degrees and without water for bathing in order to encourage the wound to heal more quickly.

Feeding will be the same, but the frequency will change. Instead of every three days, as is usual for this species, the operated monitor lizard will be fed once a week to minimise the risk of regurgitation or digestive problems during the check-ups and cures that will be carried out over the next few weeks. The diet of this species is based mainly on meat and fish.

The monitor lizard weighs 17 kilos and will return to its outdoor facility when the wound is completely closed and healed to reduce the possibility of possible infections; it will share this space with six turtles, two leaf turtles and four orlitia turtles, also known as giant tortoises from Malaysia.

The water monitor is native to Southeast Asia and lives in mangroves, swamps and wetlands. They can reach up to three metres in length and weigh up to 60 kilos. It is also characterised by a very elongated neck and nose. After the Komodo dragon, it is the second largest species of the Varanidae family.