It appears the caesarean sections are not just for celebrities looking to avoid the pain of childbirth as staff at a Chinese zoo were forced to operate on a turtle, who got into trouble while laying her eggs.
Keepers at Chengdu City Zoo decided to take the Dabao the turtle to hospital when they saw the struggling mother's eggs sticking together, which impeded the birthing process.
Previously, doctors had only operated on humans but they affirmed that the procedure was successful.
Hospital director Liu Wei said: "We decided to open the shell covering its stomach with a skull opener since the shell is about as hard as a human skull," reports Ananova.com.
Although Chengdu is in China's south-west, one of its most secluded regions, there are clear rewards for animal lovers who make the trip.
It is the home of the Giant Panda Research Base, which is one of the world's most populated and most important centres for preserving the bamboo munching mammal.
Chengdu Zoo, which is linked to the research base, specialises in rearing pandas in captivity and is renowned all over the world for its innovative ways of making the animals mate and for its post-natal care.
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