San Diego Zoo Safari Park Performs Groundbreaking Surgery on Western Lowland Gorilla

A groundbreaking medical procedure has been successfully performed on a western lowland gorilla at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Mizani, a 12-year-old male, underwent a first-of-its-kind mastoidectomy to treat a severe infection that had spread into portions of his skull. The complex surgery was carried out by a highly skilled team of wildlife health experts from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, in collaboration with surgeons from UC San Diego Health.

The multidisciplinary team worked together to carefully navigate the unique challenges of performing surgery on a large primate. The mastoidectomy, a procedure typically used to treat infections in the mastoid bone of the skull, required precise planning and execution to ensure Mizani's safety and comfort. By employing their collective expertise, the team was able to successfully drain the infection and restore Mizani's health.

Thanks to the expertise of the medical team, Mizani is now on the road to recovery, and his prognosis is optimistic. The successful completion of this pioneering procedure marks an important milestone in the field of wildlife medicine, highlighting the potential for innovative treatments to improve the health and well-being of animals in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.