AssetID: 55080212
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Open Wide! Elephant Gets 'Filling' After Keepers Spot Tusk Cavity
Caption: WORDS BYLINE: Hayley Chamberlain An African elephant at a Somerset zoo has been given specialist dental care after keepers spotted a tiny hole in his tusk during a routine check-up. Uli, a young bull living at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol, was treated by world-renowned wildlife dentist Peter Kertesz, who has worked with everything from lions to dolphins. The delicate procedure saw Kertesz clean and drill into the tusk before sealing it with resin to stop any further damage. Head keeper Tom Lindley said the treatment was only possible thanks to the strong bond between Uli and his carers since his arrival last year. He explained: "Tusk health is vital for elephants, and we’re proud of the trust Uli has built with us since he arrived at the Zoo last year. "That trust allows us to carry out this kind of important care calmly and safely. His welfare is always our highest priority, by taking preventative measures and treating potential issues early, we can avoid more serious problems further down the line." Thanks to months of training, Uli remained calm throughout the procedure — and was rewarded afterwards with bananas and cabbage. Dentist Kertesz, from Zoo Dent, said: "Everything went extremely well. We started by smoothing the tusk down, and we then looked inside to make sure we were onto healthy dentine, the substance that makes up most of the tusk and is commonly known as ivory. We then filled it with some plastic material so no dirt can get in. It will now be fine for years." The team also checked on Janu, an older bull who had damaged a tusk while playing. His tusk was smoothed and given protective treatment following a plan agreed by keepers and Kertesz. The elephants live in a 20-acre habitat — the largest of its kind in northern Europe — which the zoo insists is built to the highest welfare standards.
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