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A young resident rhino at England’s Knowsley Safari received surgery for a fractured leg, in what was believed to be the first-ever procedure of its kind.

Knowsley Safari said several months ago its staff noticed Amara, an 800-kg (1,764-pound) white southern rhino born at the park in 2022, began walking with a “mysterious limp.”

The park said in a press release: “Amara’s initial treatment involved rest and pain relief. However, after further investigation, we brought in equine surgeons from the University of Liverpool for an advanced diagnosis. Using radiographs, the team discovered a rare and unusual fracture in her ulna, located near the wrist joint. To our surprise, no documentation or case studies existed worldwide for a rhino with this type of injury.”

A plan was devised, and a team of more than 10 people, including veterinarians, specialist surgeons, and anesthetists, performed “five hours of intricate keyhole surgery inside Amara’s enclosure” while the animal was under anesthesia, Knowsley Safari said.

Amara was fitted with a cast and recuperated inside her enclosure with her mother before gradually being allowed access to larger spaces over the course of several months.

Amara’s cast was removed in May, Knowsley Safari said, noting that 27 weeks passed between the initial fracture and her recovery. Credit: Knowsley Safari via Storyful