Tusko's second surgery goes well

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A second surgery to remove an infected tusk from Tusko the elephant at the Oregon Zoo was successful.

Tusko underwent an initial surgery in February but staff were not able to completely remove the tusk because they didn't want to keep the nearly seven-ton elephant under anesthesia too long and wanted to use better tools.

The second surgery was nearly four hours long and removed the last section of his chronically infected tusk.

The 35-year-old elephant is expected to make a full recovery from his surgery and will completely heal within the next year.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.