BERLIN — Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla residing in captivity, celebrated her 69th birthday with a feast Monday, munching on cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce on the Berlin Zoo.
However no birthday cake, as a result of sugar is not wholesome for the getting old primate.
Fatou, a western lowland gorilla, arrived in what was then West Berlin in 1959. She was believed to be about 2 years previous on the time, although her actual birthdate is not recognized – April 13 is her designated birthday. Gorillas can stay for round 35-40 years within the wild and longer in captivity.
Fatou, the oldest of Berlin’s zoo and likewise believed to be the world’s oldest gorilla, eats greens to rejoice her 69th birthday in Berlin, Germany, Monday, April 13, 2026.
AP Picture/Markus Schreiber
Fatou turned the zoo’s oldest resident in 2024, following the loss of life of Ingo the flamingo. The hen was believed to be no less than 75 and had lived on the zoo since 1955.
Fatou was doubtless born within the wild in western Africa however the story goes {that a} French sailor took her out of Africa and bartered her to cowl his bar tab in Marseille, France, in keeping with the Guinness World Information. A French animal dealer then reportedly bought her to the zoo.
Fatou, the oldest of Berlin’s zoo and likewise believed to be the world’s oldest gorilla, eats greens to rejoice her 69th birthday in Berlin, Germany, Monday, April 13, 2026.
AP Picture/Markus Schreiber
Nowadays, Fatou lives in an enclosure of her personal and prefers to maintain her distance from the zoo’s different gorillas in her previous age. She’s misplaced her tooth and he or she suffers from a contact of arthritis and listening to loss.
However Christian Aust, the Berlin Zoo’s primate supervisor, stated she’s pleasant with the zookeepers, if nonetheless a bit cussed.
At 69 years previous, she’s earned it. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Fatou.
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