The unexpected death last week of Prince, a rare white lion born into captivity at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania, raised questions about oversight of such facilities as well as the expertise of the veterinarians who care for the animals. Prince died while recovering from anesthesia and a flushing out of his ear to treat an infection. However, experts say that anesthesia on big cats is risky. “It can be a very effective veterinary tool. That being said… with these big cats, it’s very difficult to get the dosage correct with anesthesia,” said Kate Dylewsky, program associate at Born Free USA. “There’s always the risk that anesthesia will wear off prematurely or, on the flip side, they’ll get too strong a dose.”
Link: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette