Sofia Zoo marmoset, and macaques. The predator sector houses big cats, bears and small predators, including lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and brown bears. In January 2011 the zoo received eight Humboldt penguins on loan from Germany. The penguins are on loan for about 18 months, after which they will be returned, with any offspring to stay at the zoo. The zoo has some 1,400 individual birds representing 192 species. Waterbirds are housed in a lake, and Imperial eagles, Griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures and buzzards in a large walk-through aviary. Other species of birds at the zoo include ostriches, Silver pheasants, peacocks, flamingos,
Hip replacement (animal) be set against the risks and the existing quality of life attainable with medication, lifestyle change, or non-surgical handling. Usually a course of medications is tried in any event, to assess how the animal responds to them. An animal will usually need a minimum of 2 months convalescence to recover from hip replacement surgery. This allows the new artificial acetabular cup (the caput, or hip socket) to bond properly to the pelvis (hip bone). During this period, the animal must be restricted to carefully limited mobility and exercise, as the joint is still bonding and new bone is being laid