Historic Spinal Surgery Gives "Lu" the Chimp a Second Chance Mwelu (“Lu”), a 34-year-old chimpanzee at Zoo Knoxville, is recovering after a groundbreaking spinal surgery to remove a tumor—believed to be the first documented procedure of its kind performed on a chimpanzee. The surgery, conducted September 19 at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, brought together Dr. Talisha Moore, a veterinary neurologist, and Dr. James A. Killeffer, a human neurologist from UT Medical Center. Because chimpanzees are more like humans than other animals, combining expertise was the best path forward. “This was an incredibly rare case,” said Dr. Moore. “Partnering with Dr. Killeffer allowed us to combine expertise from both veterinary and human medicine to give Lu the best chance at recovery.” Dr. Killeffer added: “Not only have I not heard of this procedure being done in a chimpanzee, I couldn’t find any record of it in the literature. We were able to remove the vast majority of the tumor, relieve pressure on the spinal cord, and give him a path to healing.” Zoo Knoxville President and CEO Bill Street praised the effort: “Their dedication has given Lu the opportunity for a longer, fuller life while also paving the way for other chimpanzees who may benefit from this groundbreaking work.” Dr. Paul Plummer, Dean of UTCVM, noted: “Our partnerships with Zoo Knoxville and UT Medical Center are essential. By leveraging our expert staff and cutting-edge facilities, we advance veterinary medicine and elevate the standard of care daily.” Lu is already showing signs of improved movement and continues to recover under close observation. We are excited to share Lu’s story and take you on his journey to recovery. @utcvm @utmedicalcenter