Chemo treatment for Bengal tigress at Thiruvananthapuram Zoo after being diagnosed with cancer
A Bengal tigress named Babita at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is undergoing chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma. Veterinary experts opted for this treatment after the cancer spread, making surgery impossible.
Why it matters
This case highlights the evolving field of veterinary oncology and the challenges of managing wildlife health in captivity.
Babita, a female Bengal tiger at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. Babita was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, which affects the mesothelial lining surrounding the internal organs, several months ago. However, only palliative care was being provided until now owing to the lack of established treatment protocols for the disease.
Surgical removal was ruled out since the cancer is diffuse or spread out, rather than a solid tumour. The diagnosis was made following a detailed clinical evaluation led by zoo’s veterinary surgeon Nikesh Kiran after Babita developed severe ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen) and loss of appetite.
The diagnosis was confirmed by a multidisciplinary team comprising Sachin Manoj, Jayakrishnan Narayanan, and Aiswarya Vijay, doctors at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Kudappanakkunnu; Harish C. from the State Animal Disease Institute, Palode; and Devi S.S., assistant professor at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
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