Kannur: A one-and-a-half-year-old ostrich which underwent a rare operation to recover from a mandible injury is recovering. The female bird raised at the Pothamkandam Anandasramam near Payyanur has undergone surgery. The mandible was injured from the iron fence of the cage.

The surgery was performed by doctors Sarath and Cyril Aloysius under the guidance of the Surgeon at the District Veterinary Hospital Dr Sherin B Sarang. Doctors said they are not aware of this kind of surgery on an ostrich anywhere in the country.

The surgery took place on February 2 from the place where ostriches were farmed. The ostrich, which weighed 130 kg, was operated on by injecting drugs. The treatment was called 'orthopaedic wiring'. A stainless wire was placed to correct the broken mandible.

The surgery took only half an hour but the bird regained consciousness after 3 hours. The ostrich is now completely healthy.