From KSL-TVA veterinary eye doctor in Salt Lake City, Utah has performed a one-of-a-kind operation saving the sight of a baby penguin. The little penguin was born with cataracts and unable to see.
Ajani is just a baby, 14 weeks old, and, until recently, the African Black-Footed penguin could not see.
Now, he can get a good look at his friends for the first time and when it comes to fishing you can bet his skills will be much improved.
Zookeeper Amy Vargas says "I'm of course nervous for him, but excited for him. He obviously wants to be part of the flock."
Just a couple hours earlier, Ahani was put under, and prepped for cataract surgery on both eyes. The cloudy vision was a birth defect for the baby penguin that lives with this family of 23 at the Tautphaus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls.
Veterinary Ophthalmologist Dr. Nicole MacLaren says "it's progressively gotten worse so, the lens in his eye which is behind his iris has become cloudy so he's not getting any light to his retina."
Doctor Nicole MacLaren, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, donated her time for the surgery at Salt Lake City Eye Care for Animals. She's worked on a lot of eyes, eagles and owls, but never a baby penguin.
