Five hundred kilograms of medical aid came with the group when they arrived Tuesday aboard sponsor Swissair. The kilograms of equipment included special operating tools that had to be designed for the operation by Kertesz's technical assistant Nigel Freeland. Working 12 or more hours a day, the group has successfully operated on three walruses in two days and hopes to finish by Sunday. Luckily, the tusks are not needed in zoo life. Walruses use them as tools of locomotion and to pick mollusks off rocks in the sea.
Abscesses are a common enough problem in many zoos.
Previously, Pavlova sent a batch of walruses to the United States because of the problem. So far, the three operations in two days have been a success, with the only hiccup being the first walrus who was not immobilized enough for the operation. Although they will suffer some pain, the surgical cuts should heal seven days after the operation,Kertesz said. For information about helping the walruses, call the Moscow Zoo at 253-6367.