An African elephant at a Somerset zoo has received specialist dental care to safeguard his tusk, after keepers spotted a small hole during routine health checks.

Uli, a young bull at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol, was treated by world‑renowned wildlife dentist Peter Kertesz, who has worked with everything from lions to dolphins.

The procedure involved cleaning and drilling the tusk before sealing it with resin to prevent future damage.

Head keeper Tom Lindley said the treatment was made possible by the trust built between Uli and his carers since he arrived last year.

He said: "Tusk health is vital for elephants, and we're proud of the trust Uli has built with us since he arrived at the Zoo last year."

"That trust allows us to carry out this kind of important care calmly and safely."

"His welfare is always our highest priority, by taking preventative measures and treating potential issues early, we can avoid more serious problems further down the line."

Thanks to careful training, Uli remained calm throughout and was rewarded with bananas and cabbage.

Peter Kertesz, from Zoo Dent, said, "Everything went extremely well. We started by smoothing the tusk down, and we then looked inside to make sure we were onto healthy dentine, the substance that makes up most of the tusk and is commonly known as ivory. We then filled it with some plastic material so no dirt can get in. It will now be fine for years."

The dental team also checked on Janu, an older bull who recently damaged a tusk during play. His tusk was smoothed and protected with a treatment plan agreed by keepers and Kertesz.

The elephants live in a 20‑acre habitat – the largest of its kind in northern Europe – which the zoo says is designed to the highest welfare standards.