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Injured panther first patient at new Lowry Park Zoo animal hospital

 
Published Nov. 14, 2014

TAMPA — A Florida panther suffering from shotgun wounds is the first patient in a new veterinary hospital for Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.

The 7,000-square-foot hospital has dedicated areas for surgery, pharmacy, radiology, labs, veterinary offices and holding for animal patients like the rescued panther — which the zoo nicknamed "Uno."

The panther, estimated to be about 2 years old, was rescued in October by biologists for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Someone had alerted authorities after seeing the cat cross the road.

The biologists saw the panther had suffered shotgun blasts and potentially had been blinded. In Tampa, vets determined the blast had ruptured Uno's right eye and infections in his left eye made him clinically blind.

While Uno's health has improved since arriving, his blindness prevents him from being reintroduced into the wild, zoo officials said.

Uno's long-term care plans have not been decided yet.