14 DAY TRIAL // A 14-year-old Sumatran tiger living at a zoo in Israel developed an ear infection about a year ago, and has been trying to shake it off ever since.
Antibiotics did little to help Pedang feel better, and zoo staff decided that no harm could come out of giving unconventional treatments such as acupuncture a try. Sources say that, this past Sunday, the Sumatran tiger was sedated and a holistic medicine professional got to stick needles in the cat's ear and in other parts of its body.
Besides strengthening Pedang's immune system, the acupuncture session is expected to make it easier for the tiger's body to absorb the antibiotics that zoo staff will continue to give it.
Although numerous people turn to traditional Chinese medicine when conventional one fails them, it seldom happens that acupuncture and the like are used to treat animals.