Mwelu, a 34-year-old resident chimpanzee at Zoo Knoxville, is on the road to recovery after undergoing “groundbreaking” surgery to remove a tumor from his spine, zoo officials said.
It is “believed to be the first documented procedure of its kind performed on a chimpanzee,” according to Sept. 26 news release from Zoo Knoxville.
After zookeepers noticed Mwelu showing signs of hind leg weakness, they brought him in for an MRI, which showed “a tumor pressing against his spinal cord,” according to the release.
After additional tests confirmed the cancer had not spread elsewhere in Mwelu’s body, it was determined surgery would be the best way to improve his quality of life and preserve his mobility, the team said…