|
< Go back to News Updates
Bobo the tiger undergoes necropsy
By Rochelle Brenner
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 16
Bobo the tiger is back in Palm Beach County after undergoing
a necropsy - an autopsy for animals - at the University
of Florida in Gainesville, according to Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Willie
Puz. The results of the necropsy are not expected to
be released for several days while the investigation
continues.
Bobo's owner, Steve Sipek, said he expects the commission
to return Bobo's body to him for a burial. Sipek said
he hopes to have a funeral within the next few days.
Pathologists in Gainesville were expected to check
on whether Bobo was ill, how many times he was shot
and where.
"It's really elaborate," said Joseph DiPietro,
dean of the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.
"We take all kinds of samples based on what you
find. Our pathologist will report on all the findings,
whether the liver is normal or abnormal, the lung, and
so on."
Final lab results may not be available for more than
a month, DiPietro said. He said he doesn't think the
necropsy can determine whether the animal was lunging
at the time it was shot, as the officer said.
Staff members of the college, the only veterinary college
in Florida, are the experts. They treat about 20 big
cats a year and perform about three necropsies a year.
The man who led the necropsy is the college's chief
of the pathology service, Dr. William Castleman, who
was joined by a resident, veterinary students and technicians.
Wildlife commission Lt. Charles Dennis was also in Gainesville
for the necropsy, commission officials said.
DiPietro said the exam was performed in a facility
designed for necropsies on any animal.
"Our people in pathology do necropsies on all
of God's creatures - a dog or cat or horse or tigers
on occasion - to even elephants on a rare occasion,"
DiPietro said. "Big cats are really similar to
the domestic cat you have in your house. Anatomically
they're just bigger in size."
DiPietro said a necropsy generally costs hundreds of
dollars depending on what tests are needed.
|
