A 12-year-old male western lowland gorilla living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park underwent what is believed to be a first-of- its-kind surgery by UC San Diego Health physicians and is recovering well, it was announced Monday.
The Safari Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center performed a CT scan on Mizani the gorilla, confirming he had sinusitis and mastoiditis, an infection of the large bone behind the ear that can occur in both humans and gorillas.
Veterinarians and wildlife care specialists noticed in March that Mizani was “reluctant to open his mouth fully, had a decreased appetite, and was exhibiting behaviors often associated with head pain, like holding his head while squinting his eyes,” according to a statement from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance…