Skip to content
PDBY
Primary Navigation Menu
Menu
  • News
  • Features
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Online Exclusive
  • PDBY Videos
  • Advertising
  • About us

Makokou the gorilla’s historic surgery shared in new documentary


KAYLA THOMAS

On Monday, 21 September, the historic surgery of gorilla Makokou will be shared in a documentary on PeoplesWeather, DSTV channel 180. The documentary will air in three parts at 18:00 on 21, 22 and 23 September, and be repeated as a complete series on World Gorilla Day on 24 September.

“The “three hour surgery […]” is a “truly heart-warming account”“

People’sWeather is a weather, environmental news and lifestyle channel, which was granted exclusive access to film Makokou’s surgery – the second ever performed of its kind. Stephan Le Roux, CEO of People’sWeather, says they “feel so privileged to be able to share this ground-breaking surgery”, and that “it was electrifying, as no less than 24 generous professionals pour their energy into ensuring the success of this operation”. The documentary follows Makokou’s three hour surgery to remove inflammatory polyps in his nasal passages, which were causing chronic sinusitis, and is a “truly heart-warming account” of “Makokou’s fascinating medical journey”.

“His curator and keepers celebrated his 35th birthday in July, when “he was able to enjoy a few treats with a far better sense of smell and taste”.“

Makokou’s journey began in June, when veterinarians noticed the 34 year old Western Lowland gorilla had a persistent nasal discharge, which was not responding to treatment. Makokou was “airlifted to the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort for a CT scan. Both the helicopter airlift and the CT scan were pioneering world firsts”, says People’sWeather. On 20 June, his surgery was performed by a team consisting of veterinarians from UP’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and Johannesburg Zoo, as well as human surgeons and medical specialists. The team included Dr Kresen Pillay, veterinarian for Johannesburg Zoo, Dr Kobus Venter, human ENT specialist, and Faculty of Veterinary Science members, Professor Gerhard Steenkamp, Dr Justin Grace, Professor Adrian Tordiffe and Dr Roxanne Buck. People’sWeather explains that “after three hours of surgery, Makokou was returned to his enclosure night-room”. Dr Pillay said “it was a major relief to all when Makokou woke up without complications, with no recollection he had just made history”, and that “the Johannesburg Zoo veterinary team reported he was looking well”. His curator and keepers celebrated his 35th birthday in July, when “he was able to enjoy a few treats with a far better sense of smell and taste”.

Watch the documentary from 21 to 23 September, or on World Gorilla Day on 24 September, on People’sWeather, DSTV channel 180.

Image Provided

2020-09-21
Prev Post
Next Post

FLIP through PDBY

18 May 2020 Issue 8 Year 82

PDBY - Print, Digital, and Broadcast Youth media - Independent student newspaper of the University of Pretoria

Like PDBY News

0
  PDBY Media Like
  PDBY Media Follow
  PDBY News Follow
  PDBY Video Subscribe

Work at PDBY

Entertainment

Pssst…
Pdby NewsOctober 27, 2020

Pssst… has been busy.

Pssst…

Pdby News - October 27, 2020

Coctail Corner : Recipe

Pdby News - October 27, 2020

How Jerusalema Took the World by Storm

Pdby News - October 27, 2020

There’s aThere’s a conspiracy theoryconspiracy theory for that!

Pdby News - October 27, 2020

Most Popular

Racism alleged at Aandklas

Pdby News - November 23, 2020

The future of legal cannabis in South Africa

Pdby News - November 15, 2020

EFFSC to challenge presidential elections at High Court: Is there a fourth presidential candidate?

Pdby News - October 31, 2020

Bluetooth-powered COVID-19 Contact Tracing App launched in South Africa

Pdby News - September 6, 2020

Meet the Team

Prof. Kupe visits PDBY
Pdby NewsMay 7, 2019

And we made him all uncomfortable on our couch.

News

Racism alleged at Aandklas

Pdby News - November 23, 2020

Sports

SEMLI leading athlete research trial

Pdby News - October 27, 2020

EDITORS PICKS

EFFSC to challenge presidential elections at High Court: Is there a fourth presidential candidate?
Pdby NewsOctober 31, 2020

SUSANNA ANBU, KAYLA THOMAS and LEAH REES On 25 October, PDBY received an anonymous tip that the Constitutional Tribunal (Student Court of UP) was in the process of drafting a binding order to reinstate an applicant’s name on the presidential ballot list for the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.

POPULAR POST

Racism alleged at Aandklas

Pdby News - November 23, 2020

The future of legal cannabis in South Africa

Pdby News - November 15, 2020

EFFSC to challenge presidential elections at High Court: Is there a fourth presidential candidate?

Pdby News - October 31, 2020

POPULAR CATEGORY

 
  • Features
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Online Exclusive
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About us
 

ABOUT US

PDBY is the official student newspaper of the University of Pretoria (http://www.up.ac.za).
The first issue of PDBY hit the streets in 1939. Today PDBY has established itself as one of the leading student publications in South Africa.

Contact us: pdby@up.ac.za

FOLLOW US