No kid or adult for that matter looks forward to a root canal, but this time, it was the dentist who probably had the biggest angst.
On Thursday, they were operating on the mouth of a bear.
Kala, a 16-year old Malayan Sun Bear, needed a little dental surgery to repair damage to her upper canines. She was anesthetized during the procedure as dentists worked around the sharp teeth under the supervision of Miami Metrozoo veterinarians. It was the bear's fourth procedure.
Malayan Sun Bears are an endangered species found in isolated forest areas of Thailand, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. They are the smallest of the world's bears usually weighing between 100 and 200 pounds. They are expert tree climbers and are considered to be one of the most dangerous animals within their range in the wild.
As omnivores, they feed on a variety of fruits and vegetation, insects, birds, and small mammals. Dentists have yet to be added to the menu.
The surgery was a success and Kala will soon be back in her enclosure with Liberty, a 23-year-old male, at Metrozoo.
No word if Kala received a lollipop for her troubles.
