Tiger gets dental care from world-renowned wildlife dentist

By Dean Murray

A rescued tiger at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in North Somerset has received dental care from a world-renowned wildlife dentist.

Aqua, who arrived at the Zoo in October 2025, recently underwent a detailed dental assessment after his keepers identified signs of historic tooth problems during routine health checks.

Aqua’s journey began in 2019 when he was one of 10 tigers rescued from illegal trafficking at the Poland–Belarus border. The group had endured extremely challenging conditions and, sadly, one tiger did not survive.

Such dental issues are common in big cats with challenging pasts, and the team wanted to act promptly to safeguard Aqua’s health and wellbeing and for his comfort.

Emma Ogborne, Lead Big Cat Keeper at the Zoo, said: "Through feeding with kitchen tongs as part of our protected contact training, we’re able to build trust with Aqua while keeping both him and his keepers safe. This approach allows us to carry out routine health checks and spot any issues, like the dental work he needed, without causing stress. It’s a vital part of how we care for big cats, helping us catch potential problems early."

To prevent further deterioration and protect his long-term dental health, the Zoo enlisted the expertise of Dr. Peter Kertesz from Zoo Dent – an internationally recognized wildlife dental consultant who has treated species ranging from lions to walrus across the world.

Chris Wilkinson, Curator at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm said: "The procedure went really well. Using specialist equipment designed for big cats, we treated Aqua’s top two canine teeth and performed the equivalent of a human root canal. This visit marks the beginning of his ongoing care plan, helping us protect his long-term dental health."

Aqua was rehabilitated at specialist animal welfare organisation AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection) in Spain before finding his current home at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, where he is now settling in well.