The first face transplant was performed on a baboon

MINI BELIEVE IT OR NOT –

In the mid-1980s, plastic surgeon Thomas Loeb performed the world’s first successful face transplant, and he did it on a baboon.

• Dr. Loeb was 30 years-old at the time, and wanted to prove that successful face transplants were possible
• He knew the facial anatomy of humans and baboons was similar
• He practiced on baboons who had already died of natural causes
• After proving he could do it, he was given the go ahead to work on living baboons so long as the baboons were euthanized after to avoid further suffering

MINI BION EXTRAS

•  A Chinese zoo recruited a baboon to work as a ticket seller
• In the 1880s a baboon called Jack operated signals on the railroad at Uitenhage, South Africa, after his signalman owner lost his legs in an accident
• Jackie, a South African baboon, was a Corporal in the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment during World War I. He survived the war despite being wounded twice