KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — After undergoing a first-of-its-kind surgery, a Zoo Knoxville chimpanzee is recovering well.
Mwelu, a 34-year-old chimpanzee, underwent spinal surgery in September after a tumor was discovered pressing on his spinal cord. Since the mass was removed, the chimp has shown improved mobility and faced no setbacks. The zoo added that histopathology results confirmed that the mass was benign, and no evidence of cancer was found.
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He is showing a lot of improvement in his mobility and continues to gain strength. The zoo said that while he is not with the other chimps yet, he can see and hear them from his recovery area. He is also enjoying the extra attention from his human caregivers.
“The goal during this phase is to keep Lu calm and discourage climbing so his body can heal, which can be a challenge now that he’s feeling so much better. As his recovery continues, the team will carefully plan his reintroduction to the troop, but there’s no rush,” wrote the Zoo in a release.
The surgery, which the zoo said is believed to be the first documented procedure of its kind performed on a chimpanzee, was performed at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine through a collaboration between Dr. Talisha Moore, a veterinary neurologist, and Dr. James A. Killeffer, a human neurologist.
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A Zoo Knoxville spokesperson said they will continue to monitor Mwelu’s health, and they are looking forward to when he can rejoin the troop. There are currently six chimpanzees under Zoo Knoxville’s care, including Mwelu…