12-year-old gorilla gets what may be the world’s first skull surgery of its kind

A 12-year-old western lowland gorilla at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has undergone what experts believe is the first reported skull surgery of its kind ever performed on a gorilla. The groundbreaking procedure was carried out after veterinarians discovered a serious infection in the bone behind the animal's ear that had spread into parts of his skull, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The patient, a male gorilla named Mizani, was treated through a complex surgical procedure known as a mastoidectomy, which involves removing infected portions of the mastoid bone located behind the ear. The operation was performed through a collaboration between wildlife health experts at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and surgeons from UC San Diego Health. Unusual symptoms led to diagnosis The medical journey began in March 2026 when wildlife care specialists noticed changes in Mizani's behaviour.