San Diego Zoo Safari Park Surgeons Perform First Mastoidectomy on Western Lowland Gorilla

Veterinary specialists and human surgeons at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park recently performed the world’s first mastoidectomy on a western lowland gorilla to address a severe skull infection. The medical team operated on Mizani, a 12-year-old male, to resolve the chronic condition and prevent further health complications.

The procedure involved a collaborative effort between the zoo’s wildlife health experts and surgeons from UC San Diego Health. By combining their respective expertise in veterinary and human medicine, the team successfully navigated the complexities of the gorilla’s anatomy to treat the infection. This surgery marks the first time this specific medical intervention has been documented in a gorilla, providing a new approach for managing similar infections in great apes.

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Date: July 13, 2026

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