NOTE TO MEDIA: Images and video are available through this link. Photo credits are contained in the file name (example: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium). 

Powell, OH – Veterinarians and animal care experts at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium recently worked alongside specialists from Nationwide Children’s Hospital to provide specialized care for Matilda, a 13-year-old mandrill diagnosed with a nasal condition that caused breathing challenges. Nasal conditions like Matilda’s can cause significant challenges for both people and wildlife, interfering with basic activities such as sleeping, eating, and overall comfort.

Matilda’s dedicated animal care team was the first to notice changes in her breathing and promptly alerted the Zoo’s Conservation Medicine staff. Their close daily observations and quick action led to initial treatments, including antibiotics and nasal medications. When those did not provide lasting relief, a CT scan and consultation with specialists confirmed that surgery would be the best option.

On September 5, 2025, the combined team performed an innovative procedure to relieve Matilda’s chronic nasal obstruction caused by a nasal polyp and enlarged turbinates – a condition in which inflammation causes a polyp or growth and the nasal turbinates become abnormally enlarged and block airflow. While in people this condition can often be treated with medications, Matilda required surgical intervention to breathe more comfortably.

The procedure, called an endoscopic turbinate reduction using radiofrequency intramural ablation and removal of polyps, lasted approximately 30 minutes and involved inserting a thin scope into Matilda’s nasal passages and applying controlled radiofrequency energy to shrink the swollen tissue and other instruments to remove the polyp. This reduced the size of her nasal turbinates, opened her airway, and made breathing easier. While this type of procedure is commonly performed on children, the team first created a 3D-printed model of Matilda’s skull at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to ensure the instruments would be compatible with a mandrill’s anatomy and to carefully plan their approach.

“Matilda’s health and wellbeing are always our highest priorities,” said Dr. Randy Junge, Vice President of Conservation Medicine at the Columbus Zoo. “We are grateful to the talented specialists at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who generously shared their expertise and worked side by side with our veterinary staff to improve her quality of life.”

“Treating Matilda was a remarkable privilege,” said Dr. Charles Elmaraghy, Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “As a pediatric ENT, I’m trained to diagnose and treat nasal obstruction in children; when I learned about Matilda’s case, I was able to apply those skills. Together with the Zoo’s veterinarians, our team developed a minimally invasive approach that improved her breathing. This experience also highlights how two very different fields of medicine can collaborate to solve unique challenges.”

Since the procedure, Matilda has been recovering well. As early as the following day, veterinarians reported she was breathing comfortably without audible sounds and her bloodwork was normal. Additional tests are underway to continue monitoring her progress.

As part of her recovery, Matilda was kept calm in a quiet area behind the scenes before being reintroduced to her family group—a key step for a social species like mandrills. She is one of Dr. Junge’s favorite animals, and he has cared for her on other occasions. “Matilda seems to recognize the attention she’s received,” said Junge. “When I visit her habitat, she often comes over to greet me—she’s one of the most appreciative animals I’ve worked with.”

Animals at the Columbus Zoo are deeply cherished by staff, volunteers, and guests alike. Beyond the medical innovation, this case also touched lives at home. In preparing for the surgery, Dr. Elmaraghy’s own children became interested in Matilda’s case. His son even created a 3D-printed model of her skull at home to practice, and his daughter—who dreams of becoming a veterinarian—sent her best wishes to Matilda and the Zoo’s care team. Both children are eager to visit the Zoo soon to see how Matilda is doing—a sentiment shared by all who consider her a beloved member of the Zoo family.

A Team Effort

Matilda’s procedure was made possible thanks to the expertise and dedication of:

• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Medicine and Animal Care staff
• Dr. Charles Elmaraghy, Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Dr. Patrick Walz, Pediatric Otolaryngologist, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Heather Weidenhamer, Surgical Tech, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Kelly Giroux, Nurse Practitioner, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

“Matilda holds a special place in our mandrill troop,” said Audra Meinelt, Curator of the Zoo’s Congo Expedition region. “It has been heartwarming to see her thriving after the procedure, and we are thankful for the additional medical expertise that helped make this possible.”

Matilda’s story reflects the Columbus Zoo’s commitment to providing world-class care for animals while also inspiring the connections that support wildlife conservation.

About Mandrills

Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) are the largest and most colorful monkeys in the world, recognized by their striking red lips and noses, vivid purple and blue ridges on their faces, and vibrant rears. Native to the rainforests of Central Africa, mandrills play an important ecological role as seed dispersers but are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and hunting. The Columbus Zoo is home to a troop of seven mandrills as part of its commitment to species conservation, education, and expert care.

For additional information about the Columbus Zoo’s conservation initiatives, events, educational programs, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org. 

###

About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Home to more than 600 animal species from around the world, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 23-acre Zoombezi Bay waterpark and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a nearly 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national, and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. The Columbus Zoo is an award-winning destination, recently named the top zoo in Ohio by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice, affirming its position as one of the most respected and impactful zoological institutions in the country. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.

About Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 16,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.8 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.