Cheetah caught in Abu Dhabi has fractured foot

The female cheetah found roaming around Karama street in Abu Dhabi has a fractured foot, according to medical reports obtained by Gulf News from the Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre (ADWC). According to Ronel Barcellos, Director at ADWC, which rescued the cheetah, the cheetah is due to undergo surgery in a day or two once she has recovered some of her strength. "She is very traumatised, however she will receive the best medical care and lots of love and kindness as well as the correct food with added vitamins and calcium. The ADWC will give her a large open enclosure where she can run around freely, free from any chains around her neck. She will be placed with other cheetahs later when she recovers completely," said Barcellos. The cheetah when first spotted by a resident on Karama Street on Sunday morning chasing a rooster. It had a thick metal chain around its neck that weighed half a kilogram. The chain was removed from the animal upon reaching the centre. According to a medical report sent by Dr Nicolas Terraz from the British Veterinary Centre to ADWC about the medical examination and treatment plan for the cheetah, a swelling was found on the carpus (wrist joint). X-rays were taken which revealed a fractured accessory carpal bone. "The bone is broken in three separate fragments. This bone is important for overall use of the leg. The cheetah was sedated in order to take X-rays of her foot, and was given an anti-inflammatory injection," said Dr Terraz. The doctor also noted that all digits on both forelimbs have been de-clawed. He added that the hind limbs have not been altered, and its teeth are intact. Ear mites were also found and treated with an injection, which will need to be repeated in 3-4 weeks, said Dr Terraz's report. "A topical treatment was also applied to the ears for comfort," he added. According to a statement sent by the Abu Dhabi Police to the press, the Abu Dhabi Police received a phone call from a resident in Karama Street at 8.10am on Sunday about a wild animal roaming there. "The resident told the police that the cheetah's owner was on his way to transfer the animal to a veterinary clinic since the cheetah was suffering from fever, however the animal got away from its owner in the process," said Colonel Ali Ebrahim Al Tunaiji, Director of Abu Dhabi's Khalidiya police station. The statement, however, does not specify who the owner is, or whether he/she has been caught, but it does say that the police were at the scene 15 minutes after the phone call to make sure that the cheetah did not attack anyone. "Owning wild and endangered species is illegal, and has become a negative phenomenon in the UAE. This is not correct and must be stopped. These individuals do not have the experience to handle these wild animals, and are endangering themselves and those around them. We are still investigating how the animal entered the UAE and who the owner is. But in the meantime we encourage awareness campaigns," said the statement. From / Gulf News