Eye surgery on zoo’s snow leopard cubs successful so far

It’s only been a few days since the Philadelphia Zoo’s snow leopard cubs underwent eye surgery, but the recovery process has gone quite well so far.

Kimti and Dian, born in June, arrived with coloboma, a medical condition that can affect humans and animals. The upper eyelid abnormality causes irritation, and soon it was determined the cubs needed surgery.

The pair is already back with mom Maya and under the watchful eye of zoo staff as their sutures heal. The Inquirer today has a detailed, interesting story of how the medical team worked up to the surgery — getting the cubs familiar with the sights and smells they’d find in the operating room, and doing their best to make sure the cubs’ mother welcomed them back.