In a rare and significant achievement in wildlife dentistry, veterinarians from Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) and Wildlife SOS successfully performed a complex root canal surgery on a four-year-old Bengal tigress, Sinchana, saving her damaged canine tooth instead of extracting it.

Sinchana had sustained a severe injury to her canine tooth due to repeated cage-biting. After diagnosing the condition, veterinary teams from BBP and Wildlife SOS jointly assessed the tigress and decided that a root canal procedure would offer the best long-term outcome. The nearly three-hour surgery was carried out in the operating theatre of Wildlife SOS’s Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre.

The operation was successful, and Sinchana recovered without complications. She is currently under post-operative care at Bannerghatta Biological Park, and is reported to be recovering well.

Veterinarians said preserving the canine tooth was crucial, as these teeth play an essential role in helping tigers grasp and tear food. Untreated dental injuries can lead to chronic pain, infection, reduced appetite, and deteriorating health. By saving the tooth, the team ensured that Sinchana retained her normal feeding ability and natural dental structure.

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

A.V. Surya Sen, Executive Director of Bannerghatta Biological Park, stated that the collaboration with Wildlife SOS ensured Sinchana received the best possible specialised treatment, adding that opting for a root canal instead of extraction was the best decision for her long-term welfare.

Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, described the procedure as one of the most challenging in wildlife dentistry, noting that although extraction would have been easier, preserving the tooth offered the tigress the best chance of maintaining a normal life.

Dr. Arun A. Sha, Director of Research and Veterinary Operations at Wildlife SOS, said the surgery required meticulous anaesthetic management and specialised dental techniques, adding that Sinchana’s recovery has been smooth and the repaired tooth is healing well.

Published - July 29, 2026 02:33 pm IST