Surgeon Richard Collins is more used to operating on humans.

But he had no hesitation in stepping in when Tambabi, a 22-year-old gorilla, needed his help at Howletts wild animal park.

She was experiencing severe weight loss and was diagnosed as suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism – overactivity of the parathyroid glands – and needed surgery to remove two of her four parathyroid glands from her neck.

She was anaesthetised for two hours with the surgery taking just over an hour. It was performed by resident veterinary surgeon, Jane Hopper, with endocrine surgeon Mr Collins scrubbing in and on hand to advise.

Mr Collins, who used to work at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, said: “This type of operation is fairly common in human beings but no reference can be found of the procedure ever being performed on a gorilla.

“I have performed numerous operations of this type but felt that it was a privilege to be asked to be present in an advisory capacity to help one of the famous Aspinall gorillas.”

The operation was a complete success and Tambabi is doing well.