A Marathon veterinarian has rebuilt an injured American crocodile's skull at Miami Metrozoo's animal

Описание: (19 Mar 2009) HEADLINE: 'Robo Croc': Crocodile undergoes surgery
CAPTION: A Marathon veterinarian has rebuilt an injured American crocodile's skull at Miami Metrozoo's animal hospital installing four steel plates with 41 screws into the skull of the reptile. (March 19)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
NB. THIS IS A VOICEOVER TRANSCRIPT, NOT A FULL SHOT LIST.
He's being dubbed 'robo-croc'
But this endangered reptile doesn't have any special powers ... He's just lucky to be alive.
Veterinarians at Miami's Metrozoo reconstructed this crocodile's skull after it was runover by a car in December.
[Notes:SOT" The injuries were significant ... extreme as a matter of fact ... the entire front part of his skull was shattered and fractured in various areas ."]
The croc couldn't eat ... And zoo officials say it's amazing he survived the accident at all.
[Notes:SOT "This crocodile has not been able to open its mouth like this for over three months because basically the front part of its skull was not attached to the back part. of it. So he opened his mouth and this would just all hang down ... crossing the teeth."]
That's when vets from Marathon Veterinary Hospital stepped in.
They performed surgery on the 10-foot animal Tuesday.
It took several hours to install four steel plates with 41 screws into the crocodile's skull.
And just 48 hours later ... Zoo officials say the reptile's making an amazing recovery.
[Notes:SOT "Many people who even look at American alligators .. you'll often see them on the bank with their mouth open like this .. and basically they're regulating their temperature . That's something he was not able to do either for the last two months. And the fact that he was doing it hear on exhibit now back here in the holding area is really an incredibly positive sign for us."]
But zoo officials are cautious.
They say there's still no guarantee the animal will survive the long-term effects of the trauma.

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