Conjoined Saudi Siamese Twin Separation Surgery is Successful

The surgery came following the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince. SPA
The surgery came following the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince. SPA
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Conjoined Saudi Siamese Twin Separation Surgery is Successful

The surgery came following the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince. SPA
The surgery came following the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince. SPA

A specialized surgical team has managed to separate a Saudi Siamese twin who were attached from the hip and share the spinal cord and its membranes, in a surgery that lasted seven hours over seven stages with the participation of 28 members of consultants, specialists and nursing and technical personnel.

The surgery came following the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

At the end of the surgery, muscles and nerves were examined to ensure their safety and cover the wounds, and then, the twins were transferred to the children's intensive care room to be placed under supervision within the next two days.

Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, who is also head of the medical and surgical team for surgeries of separating Siamese twins, said the surgery is the 53rd carried out under the Saudi program to separate conjoined twins.

In 32 years, the Saudi program has been able to look after 127 Siamese twins from 23 countries, stressing the Kingdom’s pioneering role in humanitarian and medical work.

Al Rabeeah stated that his gesture reflects the ambitious vision led by the Crown Prince.



Japan Post to Stop Delivery of Live Reptiles 

A monitor lizard looks out under a hut at the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in Singapore on January 15, 2025. (AFP)
A monitor lizard looks out under a hut at the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in Singapore on January 15, 2025. (AFP)
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Japan Post to Stop Delivery of Live Reptiles 

A monitor lizard looks out under a hut at the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in Singapore on January 15, 2025. (AFP)
A monitor lizard looks out under a hut at the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve in Singapore on January 15, 2025. (AFP)

Japan Post will not deliver live reptiles starting from April on animal welfare grounds, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Customers had raised concerns and animal rights activists had criticized the service online, the spokeswoman for the nationwide postal service told AFP.

"After consulting with the government... we came to realize that shipping animals in an environment where temperature control and food are unavailable can amount to animal abuse," she said.

From April 1, Japan Post -- which already does not allow mammals or birds to be sent by mail -- will not deliver reptiles through any parcel or other postal services, the spokeswoman added.