It is not just hay fever sufferers who have struggled with pollen this summer – two of the polar bears at Yorkshire Wildlife Park have been caused major discomfort too.
A team of three vets, a nurse, three dermatologists and five more park staff were on hand when 97.6 stone (620kg) Victor needed to be given an allergy test.
The major operation was put in place after Victor and his smaller friend, Nobby, began suffering from abscesses on their feet.
Dermatologists from Liverpool University were brought in to carry out tests on Victor’s skin, once he had safely been put under, to verify the theory.
The results will be known in the coming days.
“Victor was shaved and there are about 50 test sites on his side.
Ms Porter said it was often the case that bears which had previously been in sterile, frequently disinfected enclosures developed pollen allergies when they were moved to more natural quarters.
And he seemed none the worse for the experience on Wednesday, with Ms Porter saying: “He’s come around nicely, he’s very calm and seems settled.”
