Birmingham Zoo's elephant, Bulwagi, to undergo tusk surgery

The Birmingham Zoo’s dominant 35-year-old male African elephant, Bulwagi, has been in the spotlight recently for undergoing a revolutionary procedure. Bulwagi, who came to the Birmingham Zoo with only one tusk, has a long-term crack in his remaining tusk that has worsened over time and become infected.

In 2015, Bulwagi underwent what the zoo hoped would be a breakthrough procedure to help correct the long-term crack in his tusk. Like all elephants, Bulwagi uses his tusks for digging, lifting objects, gathering food, stripping tree bark and for protection.

Trails of Africa and the Zoo’s veterinary staff worked together with a team lead by UAB’s Director of Materials Processing and Applications Development Center, Brian Pillay, Ph.D., to carry out the Nov. 5 procedure. Pillay’s team, according to the release, included Ben Willis, Engineer 1 for the MPAD Center; Kristin Hardin, Ph. D. student in materials engineering; David Smith, undergraduate student in biomedical engineering; and Shivani Vashi, undergraduate student in material engineering.

Together, the team developed a specialized resin and application process meant to seal the crack with the hope that it would prevent it from growing wider and longer.

Despite the continued efforts of the Birmingham Zoo’s Veterinary team, according to a news release, the infection in Bulwagi’s tusk has continued to progress. Because of this infection, the Zoo has begun working with the Colyer Institute, a center for the study of oral disease and nutrition in exotic animals, to examine and develop a plan for Bulwagi’s treatment. David A. Fagan, DDS and James E. Oosterhuis, DVM visited the Birmingham Zoo to examine the crack in Bulwagi’s tusk and to review radiographs of the tusk. During their visit, Dr. Fagan and Dr. Oosterhuis confirmed the infection in the tusk.

Based off the findings of the Colyer Institute, a decision has been made to remove Bulwagi’s tusk. Due to the progressive infection, according to the release, it is best for Bulwagi’s overall health to extract the tusk. If left in place, there is risk of the infection spreading. This will require a surgical procedure as well as over a year of daily wound care by the Zoo staff.

Village Living will continue to provide updates on Bulwagi’s condition.