Lion undergoes surgery to have his lens replaced at Florida rescue center

• Joseph, a 17-year-old lion, began squinting in the spring
• His handlers knew that something was wrong and his lens had detached 
• A team of vets sedated the big cat and brought him into an operating room
• It was a tricky operation but a success overall
• The lion was also angry having not eaten for more than a week 

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published:  31 July 2015

A team of surgeons successfully removed the lens from a 330-pound male lion's eye.

Joseph, a 17-year-old big cat, began squinting in May of this year and staff at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida knew they had to act fast. After he was sedated with a dart gun the team worked to get the huge beast onto the operating table and begin the process of removing his lens. It had become luxated, or detached, which can be a regular problem for lions that are reaching their senior years.

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A team of surgeons successfully removed the lens from a 330-pound male lion's eye

 His lens had become luxated, or detached, which can be a regular problem for lions that are reaching their senior years

The team worked to get the huge beast onto the operating table and begin the process of removing his lens

After being loaded into a crate and reaching the operating table a team of four vets got to work on the sedated animal. Carole Baskin, the CEO of Big Cat Rescue, said: 'I think this may be the first time that we've ever seen a Lion's lens being removed on camera - particularly so clearly. It took a lot of hard work to try and determine the cause of Joseph's problem and how to treat it. Along with the regular problems of sedating and operating on such a huge animal we also had to deal with the fact that Joseph was incredibly angry and was refusing to eat or drink.

Joseph, a 17-year-old big cat, began squinting in May of this year and staff at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida knew they had to act fast

The team had to sedate Joseph with a dart gun in order to bring him into the operating theater

After being loaded into a crate and reaching the operating table a team of four vets got to work on the sedated animal

Along with the regular problems of sedating and operating on such a huge animal, the vets also had to deal with the fact that Joseph was incredibly angry and was refusing to eat or drink

It took a lot of hard work to try and determine the cause of Joseph's problem and how to treat it

'Operating on a big cat is always extremely risky but the fact that Joseph was agitated because of his condition made this even more dangerous. He gave an incredible roar when we approached and sedated him which is terrifying even when he is in a cage. After the operation - which was a complete success - Joseph was given fluids, long lasting antibiotic shots and steroids. But we still had the problem that he had not eaten for eight days - it was only through the perseverance of our staff that we got him to eat some meat from a stick - he is really picky.'

The operation was a complete success. Afterwards, Joseph was given fluids, long lasting antibiotic shots and steroids

Operating on a big cat is always extremely risky but the fact that Joseph was agitated because of his condition made it even more dangerous

Joseph had not eaten for eight days - it was only through the perseverance of our staff that we got him to eat some meat from a stick

Joseph had been used as a tourist attraction for people who wanted to pet and have their photo taken with him

'He will likely lose some clarity of vision in the eye but thankfully he is no longer in discomfort.' Joseph was rescued from a backyard zoo in Ohio in October 2007 - along with another lion and four tigers. He had been used as a tourist attraction for people who wanted to pet and have their photo taken with him.

Because of this he had most of teeth removed by the owner who eventually had her establishment closed down. Joseph now lives in a half-acre enclosure with three other big cats and is recuperating from his operation by eating his favourite treat - ice cream.

Joseph was rescued from a backyard zoo in Ohio in October 2007 - along with another lion and four tigers

Joseph now lives in a half-acre enclosure with three other big cats and is recuperating from his operation by eating ice cream, his favorite treat

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