Latest news with #Scruff
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Boki the bear reunited with his playmates after brain surgery
Boki, a three-year-old brown bear who had life-saving brain surgery - has been reunited with his friends Fluff and ScruffExperts say he's made a "remarkable recovery" from his operation - which was the first of its kind in the people looking after him at the Wildwood Trust near Canterbury in Kent, say they wasted no time reconnecting with his pals and they were soon play-fighting, just like they did before. Boki had the operation in October to help with some health issues that came from a build up of fluid on his was soon on the mend and by the time it came to hibernate, he was no longer taking the time it was safe for Boki to be put back with other bears, around a year had Forde, who is in charge of the bears at the Wildwood Trust, said reintroducing them would be a major moment in Boki's recovery but they had to be sure he "was strong enough before putting them back together". Fluff and Scruff both live at the conservation centre after being rescued and with help from the team, they have learned to do things they would do naturally in the Forde says that they both seemed to know something was wrong with Boki before the cause of his health issues were says now they are back together it's amazing how much "it has lifted all three of them" and the reunion has "seen a positive impact on Fluff and Scruff too".For now Boki will get plenty of play time with his pals during the day, but the team says there won't be any sleepovers just yet, so he doesn't keep them awake all night.
ITV News
15-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Boki the Bear rejoins playmates at Wildwood Trust in Canterbury after life-saving brain surgery
Boki the bear with Scruff at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury in Kent Credit: Hardling-Lee Media A brown bear who underwent pioneering, life-saving brain surgery last October has rejoined his old playmates after more than a year apart. Three-year-old Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, Kent, started suffering seizures last summer, which were believed to have been caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). It was decided that brain surgery was the best option for Boki, who went under the knife in October. World-leading veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who waived his fee for the job, fitted a stent between Boki's brain and abdomen to help him pass the excess fluid. The young bear made a "remarkable recovery" and was weaned off his medication with no adverse effects, just before he went into torpor (semi-hibernation). Boki has now reconnected with his fellow bears Fluff and Scruff, a test that staff at Wildwood said would mark a major moment in his recovery. The bears wasted no time reconnecting, and Boki quickly began play-fighting with Scruff just as he had before they were separated nearly a year ago. Head of bears at Wildwood, Jon Forde, said the bears seemed to know something was wrong with Boki long before his diagnosis. "Fluff and Scruff stopped playing with him for the whole season before we knew he was sick – it's amazing how intuitive they are," he said. "We had to be certain Boki was strong enough before putting them back together. "He would often sit by the fence line, watching them, so we knew he missed them. "But we were taken aback by just how much it has lifted all three of them. It's not just Boki who's benefited, we've seen a positive impact on Fluff and Scruff too. "We'll continue to monitor their interactions carefully, but for now Boki will spend the day with them, then return to his own enclosure overnight, so he doesn't keep them awake all night." Boki had been adopted from Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve in December 2022, after he was rejected by his mother, and had to be hand-reared by keepers there. A spokesperson for Wildwood said: "Wildwood, known for its expertise in bear rehabilitation, helped teach him key bear behaviours and began integrating him with Fluff and Scruff, the bears had been rescued from horrific conditions in a Bulgarian hunting facility over a decade ago. "With the help of Wildwood's team, the pair have gone on to show natural behaviours like foraging and torpor."
North Wales Chronicle
15-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Boki the Bear rejoins playmates after life-saving brain surgery
Three-year-old Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, Kent, started suffering seizures last summer, which were believed to have been caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). It was decided that brain surgery was the best option for Boki, who went under the knife in October. World-leading veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who waived his fee for the job, fitted a stent between Boki's brain and abdomen to help him pass the excess fluid. The young bear made a 'remarkable recovery' and was weaned off his medication with no adverse effects, just before he went into torpor (semi-hibernation). Boki has now reconnected with his fellow bears Fluff and Scruff, a test that staff at Wildwood said would mark a major moment in his recovery. The bears wasted no time reconnecting, and Boki quickly began play-fighting with Scruff just as he had before they were separated nearly a year ago. Head of bears at Wildwood, Jon Forde, said the bears seemed to know something was wrong with Boki long before his diagnosis. 'Fluff and Scruff stopped playing with him for the whole season before we knew he was sick – it's amazing how intuitive they are,' he said. 'We had to be certain Boki was strong enough before putting them back together. 'He would often sit by the fence line, watching them, so we knew he missed them. 'But we were taken aback by just how much it has lifted all three of them. It's not just Boki who's benefited, we've seen a positive impact on Fluff and Scruff too. 'We'll continue to monitor their interactions carefully, but for now Boki will spend the day with them, then return to his own enclosure overnight, so he doesn't keep them awake all night.' Boki had been adopted from Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve in December 2022, after he was rejected by his mother, and had to be hand-reared by keepers there. A spokesperson for Wildwood said: 'Wildwood, known for its expertise in bear rehabilitation, helped teach him key bear behaviours and began integrating him with Fluff and Scruff, the bears had been rescued from horrific conditions in a Bulgarian hunting facility over a decade ago. 'With the help of Wildwood's team, the pair have gone on to show natural behaviours like foraging and torpor.'
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Boki the Bear rejoins playmates after life-saving brain surgery
Three-year-old Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, Kent, started suffering seizures last summer, which were believed to have been caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). It was decided that brain surgery was the best option for Boki, who went under the knife in October. World-leading veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who waived his fee for the job, fitted a stent between Boki's brain and abdomen to help him pass the excess fluid. The young bear made a 'remarkable recovery' and was weaned off his medication with no adverse effects, just before he went into torpor (semi-hibernation). Boki has now reconnected with his fellow bears Fluff and Scruff, a test that staff at Wildwood said would mark a major moment in his recovery. The bears wasted no time reconnecting, and Boki quickly began play-fighting with Scruff just as he had before they were separated nearly a year ago. Head of bears at Wildwood, Jon Forde, said the bears seemed to know something was wrong with Boki long before his diagnosis. 'Fluff and Scruff stopped playing with him for the whole season before we knew he was sick – it's amazing how intuitive they are,' he said. 'We had to be certain Boki was strong enough before putting them back together. 'He would often sit by the fence line, watching them, so we knew he missed them. 'But we were taken aback by just how much it has lifted all three of them. It's not just Boki who's benefited, we've seen a positive impact on Fluff and Scruff too. 'We'll continue to monitor their interactions carefully, but for now Boki will spend the day with them, then return to his own enclosure overnight, so he doesn't keep them awake all night.' Boki had been adopted from Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve in December 2022, after he was rejected by his mother, and had to be hand-reared by keepers there. A spokesperson for Wildwood said: 'Wildwood, known for its expertise in bear rehabilitation, helped teach him key bear behaviours and began integrating him with Fluff and Scruff, the bears had been rescued from horrific conditions in a Bulgarian hunting facility over a decade ago. 'With the help of Wildwood's team, the pair have gone on to show natural behaviours like foraging and torpor.'
South Wales Guardian
15-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Boki the Bear rejoins playmates after life-saving brain surgery
Three-year-old Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, Kent, started suffering seizures last summer, which were believed to have been caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). It was decided that brain surgery was the best option for Boki, who went under the knife in October. World-leading veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who waived his fee for the job, fitted a stent between Boki's brain and abdomen to help him pass the excess fluid. The young bear made a 'remarkable recovery' and was weaned off his medication with no adverse effects, just before he went into torpor (semi-hibernation). Boki has now reconnected with his fellow bears Fluff and Scruff, a test that staff at Wildwood said would mark a major moment in his recovery. The bears wasted no time reconnecting, and Boki quickly began play-fighting with Scruff just as he had before they were separated nearly a year ago. Head of bears at Wildwood, Jon Forde, said the bears seemed to know something was wrong with Boki long before his diagnosis. 'Fluff and Scruff stopped playing with him for the whole season before we knew he was sick – it's amazing how intuitive they are,' he said. 'We had to be certain Boki was strong enough before putting them back together. 'He would often sit by the fence line, watching them, so we knew he missed them. 'But we were taken aback by just how much it has lifted all three of them. It's not just Boki who's benefited, we've seen a positive impact on Fluff and Scruff too. 'We'll continue to monitor their interactions carefully, but for now Boki will spend the day with them, then return to his own enclosure overnight, so he doesn't keep them awake all night.' Boki had been adopted from Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve in December 2022, after he was rejected by his mother, and had to be hand-reared by keepers there. A spokesperson for Wildwood said: 'Wildwood, known for its expertise in bear rehabilitation, helped teach him key bear behaviours and began integrating him with Fluff and Scruff, the bears had been rescued from horrific conditions in a Bulgarian hunting facility over a decade ago. 'With the help of Wildwood's team, the pair have gone on to show natural behaviours like foraging and torpor.'
