In Israel, the first operation on the spine of a bear

In Israel, doctors performed the first operation to restore the intervertebral disc to a 19-year-old brown bear named Mango. Veterinarians noticed a few weeks ago that the 250-pound bear's hind legs began to fail. It was decided to perform an X-ray examination, which revealed the pressure of the intervertebral disc on the spinal cord, which led to paralysis. According to doctors, earlier bears with similar problems were euthanized. The operation lasted several hours. Veterinarians will soon determine whether Mango will be able to fully recover from the surgery.

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Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

2. A 19-year-old Syrian brown bear, Mango, has displaced intervertebral discs. Doctors prepare him for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Doctors prepare 19-year-old Syrian brown bear Mango for surgery at the Safari Zoological Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 7, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)