Elephants….

Something a little different from the equines he usually deals with…..

Our house surgeon, Luis Rubio-Martinez performing a vasectomy via key-hole surgery (laparoscopy) in free range African elephants during his time as faculty at the University of Pretoria (South Africa).

Laparoscopic vasectomies have been performed on the African elephants within the elephant population management program (www.elephantpmp.org). This was a collaborative project of the University of Pretoria (South Africa),  Colorado State University (USA), Walt Disney Parks & Resort, Florida (USA), and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, California (USA).

Elephants were operated on in a modified standing position in a sling hung from a crane truck.
Elephant have intra-abdominal testes.
Elephants were operated on in a modified standing position in a sling hung from a crane truck.