Emergency surgery saves George, Battersea Zoo's beloved panther chameleon

A beloved reptile in residence at Battersea Zoo has made a full recovery after undergoing emergency surgery earlier this week.

Panther chameleon, George, aroused concerns amongst zookeepers a couple of weeks ago when a suspicious growth was found inside his mouth.

(Credit: Battersea Zoo)

At risk of impacting George's jaw function and ability to eat, the growth became a matter of urgency for Battersea Zoo's veterinary surgeon, Clare, to remove after rapidly increasing in size.

"As you can imagine, veterinary surgery on a chameleon is no easy feat, with the procedure, anaesthetics and temperature control all posing risks to such a small and delicate reptile," said Battersea Zoo.

(Credit: Battersea Zoo)

Unfazed by the pressure of operating on one of Battersea Zoo's most popular residents, Clare overcame all such challenges to make the operation a huge success.

Whilst the team at Battersea Park Zoo await laboratory results to identify the growth, they said: "George has made a full recovery and is back in his home enjoying tasty locusts for his lunch".