Medical Intervention and Rehabilitation of a Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) with Traumatic Head Injury

Abstract An adult female tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) was found in a yard near an area of high vehicular traffic in Belize. Severe cephalic trauma implied a possible collision or an episode of human-wildlife conflict. The anteater sustained a traumatic injury that led to a fracture of the skull and loss of the right eye. Two surgeries, including evisceration of the eye, enucleation and tarsorraphy, were performed using different anesthetic protocols. Neurologic signs were pronounced at first, but disappeared with the course of treatment. Rehabilitation is described. The tamandua was released in a suitable area three months after initial presentation.