October 17, 2023 3:30 a.m.

Wildlife Safari has announced that a successful dental procedure was recently performed on one of its African lions, Enzi, who lives alongside his brother, Tsavo, within the safari’s drive thru.

Development and Marketing Coordinator Taylor Holeman said the groundbreaking procedure was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Brannick Adams and his team from the Harvard Dental Group.

Dr. Adams has a longstanding partnership with Wildlife Safari, having previously conducted two other procedures – on a female lion and on a cheetah.

Holeman said Enzi is an 11-year old, and is known for his big personality and can be seen playfully engaging with the females, Serafina and Mtai. Wildlife Safari’s animal keepers noticed a change in Enzi’s behavior, with increased drooling and holding his mouth open more frequently. A thorough examination revealed a fractured upper left canine tooth, necessitating a critical root canal procedure, which Dr. Adams performed.

Holeman said Wildlife Safari’s head veterinarian Dr. Benjy Alcantar spearheaded Enzi’s closer examination and it was evident he needed immediate intervention to ensure his well-being.

Dr Adam’s characterized the procedure as “adventure dentistry”. The successful operation was conducted while Enzi was under anesthesia providing an opportunity for Molly Jarrels, registrar at Wildlife Safari, to perform blood tests to assess Enzi’s overall health. Holeman said all test results came back within normal limits, reassuring the park’s commitment to their resident’s well-being.

Enzi’s daily care is overseen by Carnivore Keeper Ismael Jimenez-Delgado. Holeman said he plays a pivotal role in training the lions in various husbandry behaviors.

Pictures of Enzi and the procedure are with the story at www.541radio.com