Here's something that'll brighten your day: Dublin Zoo has pulled off what might be the most heartwarming veterinary achievement you'll hear about this year. Imani, an 18-year-old hippopotamus who's been a favourite with zoo visitors thanks to her distinctive pink feet, has just undergone the world's first recorded cataract surgery on a common hippopotamus. And it worked.
If you've ever visited Dublin Zoo with the kids, you might've noticed Imani moving carefully around her habitat, using her muzzle and lips to feel her way. That's because she's been living with a long-standing visual impairment. But now, after months of planning and a ground-breaking procedure, she can actually see out of her left eye.
Imani explores her enclosure at the zoo.
A life-changing operation
The surgery itself represents a massive achievement in veterinary medicine, not to mention Dublin Zoo's ongoing commitment to animal welfare. The procedure was carried out by a collaborative team of the zoo's own vets and animal care experts working alongside specialist surgeons. No pressure or anything, but there's literally no record of this ever being done successfully before.
Frank O'Sullivan, veterinary surgeon at Dublin Zoo, said: "This is a ground-breaking operation, and an extra-ordinary technical achievement, however our primary concern was always Imani's welfare. An enormous amount of time and care went into preparing Imani for the surgery, and seeing the marked improvement in her quality of life has made it all worthwhile."
Before the surgery, Imani had adapted remarkably well to her condition. She'd learned to navigate her world through touch and careful movement. But it meant she moved slowly, cautiously, always aware that she couldn't see obstacles coming. You can imagine how limiting that must've been for such a large, naturally confident animal.
Imani enjoys her enclosure at Dublin Zoo.
The hippo who wears a Fitbit
Here's where it gets even more fascinating. Since the surgery, the zoo's been monitoring Imani using a bespoke sensor bracelet on her front leg. Think of it as a hippo Fitbit. The accelerometer gives the team real-time data on her activity over 24 hours, helping them understand her behaviour patterns and spot any issues early.
This is another world first for the species. Dublin Zoo is working with colleagues in Valencia and Madrid to build an algorithm that validates the sensor data against actual observations of Imani. So if you visit and spot what looks like a bracelet on her leg, now you know why.
Lucy Stratford, Behaviour and Welfare Scientist at Dublin Zoo, explained the transformation they've seen: "Given her visual impairment, Imani was understandably very cautious in all of her movements and behaviour before this intervention. Now that she has improved sight, it's been great to see her become much more confident and active."
Imani enjoys a leafy snack while cooling off in the water.
Running for the first time
The most telling sign that the surgery worked? Imani's been spotted running. For a hippo who previously moved with extreme caution, that's huge. She's responding to visual cues, navigating around obstacles with ease and showing a confidence that simply wasn't there before.
The team has been watching her closely since the operation and the change in her quality of life is obvious. She's like a different animal, one who can finally experience her environment the way nature intended.
Imani's case will be documented for publication in peer-reviewed veterinary literature, which means other zoos around the world could potentially use these techniques to help animals in their care. It's the kind of pioneering work that makes you proud of what Dublin Zoo does beyond just giving families a great day out.
For those of us who've brought our kids to see Imani over the years, knowing she can now properly see us back? That's pretty special. Here's to many more years of confident hippo waddles around that enclosure.
