MIAMI – A pygmy hippopotamus named Aubergine at Zoo Miami underwent surgery on Friday to repair a birth defect that could have led to a life-threatening condition.
A team of physicians and veterinarians performed surgery to repair a secondary palate defect in the hippo. Its soft palate was abnormally short, which caused food to enter the nasal cavity when it swallowed.
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Aubergine, who was born Aug. 4 and weighs just over 125 pounds, will be kept off exhibit and fed soft foods over the next two weeks so the sutures in its extended palate can heal.