MCC Aviation flies Makokou the gorilla
On Saturday 6 June, Makokou, a 35-year-old male Western Lowland Gorilla was airlifted by helicopter from his home at the Johannesburg Zoo to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
Makokou, the much-loved gorilla at the Johannesburg Zoo has been suffering from chronic nasal discharge and swelling. He was not responding to medication and was transported by helicopter to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital in Pretoria for a medical examination, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and further tests. In May this year, a decision was taken to immobilise Makokou for a complete health examination.
The CT scan revealed that Makokou had polyps developing in his nasal passages. The enormous animal, which weighs around 210kg, had to be taken to the hospital more than 70 Km away because it possesses a CT scanner capable of holding his weight. The tests revealed the 35-year-old gorilla’s nasal passages were completely blocked by polyps, abnormal tissue growth. The examination also revealed he has fibrosis growing in his heart muscle. Makokou will have to undergo extensive surgery to remove the polyps.“What we had to do was to obtain a CT scan from a normal gorilla to compare with this one, which was quite difficult, but we managed to get one from South America,” veterinary specialist Professor Adrian Tordiff, who formed part of the team that made the diagnosis said. “There was some relief that no cancerous cells were found in the biopsied tissue”.
The surgical team consisted of Dr Kobus Venter, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, along with theatre nurses Marietjie Scheepers and Leonette Visagie. Professor Gerhard Steenkamp, a veterinary dentist and maxillofacial surgeon assisted with the procedure. The hospital also shared a video of Makokou being lifted onto a stretcher after the CT scan, by five people. The doctors also informed the media that Makokou is in a better condition now after the scan. However, the gorilla still must undergo an operation before his 35th birthday on 9 July. It is estimated that Makokou could lose two litres of blood with this extensive surgery, but a special machine will be used which can suck up all the blood that drains out of him whilst the operation is being carried out. This machine cleans the blood and it can be pumped back into him. Makokou is now back in his enclosure in Johannesburg Zoo.
As the trip by road would carry various additional risks, the medical team decided that the safest way to transport Makokou would be by helicopter. The NGO Flying for Freedom SA helped to arrange the transport in a helicopter large enough, which belongs to Mike Barnes of MCC Aviation. Barnes offered his services at no cost. Dubai National Air Transport Association, which has partnered with UP to protect endangered animals through the Wild Over Wildlife programme, has offered to pay for the CT scans. When Makokou woke up without complications he had no idea that he had just made history! Dr Pillay said. “All of us at the Zoo are most grateful for the help we received from so many good folk and it is a real pleasure when so many people from a variety of backgrounds come together to achieve a common goal,” Dr Pillay added.