(pics) Bear with 'MONSTROUSLY enlarged' tongue that dragged on ground saved by emergency surgery

A BRITISH vet has removed the "monstrously enlarged" tongue on a bear that was so swollen it dragged on the ground.

Animal welfare expert and veterinary surgeon Heather Bacon was part of a team that flew into Myanmar to carry out emergency surgery on the suffering bear.

Unlucky Nyan htoo the Asian moon bear is believed to have been struck down by elephantiasis, a mosquito-borne disaster which left his tongue ballooning out of his mouth and making life miseryable.

Not only only did he continually bite on the sensitive organ with his sharp teeth whenever he fed, he also had to rest his head on one side because it was so heavy.

Almost 7lbs of tongue tissue had to be cut away by Ms Bacon and her colleagues during a delicate four-hour operation in sweltering conditions.

Images released by the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies show how Nyan htoo’s tongue drooped out of his mouth and had swollen at the tip like a huge pink balloon.

Ms Bacon worked with Caroline Nelson, a veterinary nurse at the Animals Asia Bear Rescue Centre in Vietnam, along with Romain Pizzi from Wildlife Surgery International to give Nyan htoo a new lease of life.

Despite Nyan htoo’s name meaning “bright”, there was nothing upbeat or optimistic about his early life when was he was held captive with his brother and destined for illegal sale in China.

Moon bears, like Nyan htoo, are often kept in a cramped cages and “milked” for their bile which is highly prized in Oriental medicine.

The brothers were rescued by a monastery in Myanmar and, soon after, Nyan htoo underwent surgery to treat his “monstrously enlarged” tongue last year.

Despite a good initial recovery, the swelling recurred and led to the expert team flying recently into Myanmar to work with local vets to ease Nyan htoo’s suffering.

Ms Bacon, who is with the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said today: “This was an opportunity for us to use our veterinary and animal welfare expertise to make a significant difference for a bear and the people who care for him.

“Thanks to the enthusiasm and compassion of all involved in this uniquely collaborative project, we have been able to make a tangible improvement in the quality of Nyan htoo’s life, and hope to continue our work in Myanmar to promote improvements in animal welfare and veterinary training.”

For Nyan htoo, it now means he can play wrestle with his brother as well as enjoy his food.

Veterinary nurse Caroline Nelson, from Animals Asia's Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, added: “This was a really unusual medical condition – never before seen in any species of bear – but we weren't about to give up on Nyan Htoo.

“We're delighted that we've been able to improve his quality of life. Now he will be able to eat much more comfortably, sleep in more natural positions and move more freely for the rest of his life.”