Moscow, Feb 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Residents of central Russia's Ivanovo region have collected more than $8,800 to pay for the eye surgery of a blind tigress from the local zoo.
"This money will be sufficient to pay for the Moscow surgeons' visit, the surgery itself and the purchase of all the necessary medication," said zoo head Arkady Borzov.
He said the remaining sum will be spent on treatment for other animals.
Glyukoza, the 11-year-old tigress, was abandoned by her mother and soon began suffering from health problems.
When only 10 percent of her vision remained, the zoo, financed from the regional budget, turned to Ivanovo residents for help, and the sum was collected within just three weeks.
Glyukoza, who gave birth to nine cubs in eight years, will undergo the surgery around June.