Escondido, California - Moka, a young male Bengal tiger cub that had been brought to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park last August by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officers, underwent emergency surgery on Tuesday. The cub, which has been closely monitored by animal care staff since his arrival, recently began showing increased signs of ill health; and imaging studies indicated a serious health concern arising from intestinal adhesions. A specialist was called in, and an emergency surgery was performed to correct the malformations.
Moka came through the procedure well, and he is currently under continued care and observation at the Paul Harter Veterinary Clinic at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Veterinarians indicate that the intestinal adhesions and hernia are consistent with complications that could occur as the result of previous trauma or infection, and they are likely related to the circumstances that brought him to the attention of wildlife officers. Moka was rescued August 23, 2017 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, who found the cub while inspecting a vehicle that was entering the U.S. from Mexico.
The U.S. is a party in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement commonly known as CITES. This treaty regulates trade in endangered species of wildlife, plants and their products. International trade in species listed by CITES is illegal unless authorized by permit.
Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is inspiring children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in children’s hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global.
