Say Happy Birthday to Fatou, the world’s OLDEST gorilla!
Fatou, the oldest gorilla living in a zoo, just turned… 68 years old! 🥳
She had a special birthday party at the Berlin Zoo in Germany, where she has lived since 1959 – WOW.
Lots of people and reporters came to see her and celebrate her!
Fatou got a super yummy birthday treat made of vegetables, leaves, and fruit, like strawberries!
All the food was soft and easy to chew, since she doesn’t have any teeth anymore. 🤓
Even though most gorillas of her species – the western lowland gorilla – usually live to be around 40 to 50 years old, Fatou is still going strong at 68.
Isn’t that amazing?!
Before Fatou, the oldest gorilla ever taken care of by humans was named Colo, who lived to be 60 years old!
Fatou’s birthday, which the zoo celebrates on 13 April, has been a big event for years, especially since she turned 60 in 2017!
“Fatou is truly extraordinary,” said Dr. Andreas Knieriem, the CEO of the Berlin Zoo.
“Not just because she’s breaking all age records at 68, but because her calm and dignified demeanour captivates everyone.”
He also said that Fatou helps people remember how important it is to care for animals in the wild, especially those that are endangered. 🦍
“Biodiversity is the foundation of our existence and a precious treasure that we must protect,” he said.
Fatou’s life hasn’t just been long, it’s also been full of adventures!
When she was a young gorilla, she was found in West Africa in 1959 by a French sailor.
He didn’t have money to pay for his drink at a bar in the south of France, so he gave the little gorilla instead! 😂
Later, a woman who traded animals bought Fatou and gave her to the Berlin Zoo, where she’s lived ever since.
Since Fatou was born in the wild, no one knows her exact birthday. But when she arrived at the zoo, she was guessed to be about 2 years old. That means she was probably born in 1957.
Do you know anyone as old as her? 🤯
Doctor André Schüle, a vet at Berlin Zoo, said about Fatou:
“Every day with her is a gift, and we hope to celebrate many more birthdays together.”
Every year on her birthday, Fatou gets a special fruit basket filled with yummy treats like berries – her absolute favourite. 🫐
What’s your favourite birthday treat?
In her day to day life, Fatou usually eats mostly vegetables.
The people at Berlin Zoo take really good care of her, and make sure she eats healthy food and stays active every day!
She spends time exploring her enclosure, looking for snacks, and even climbs on ropes to keep her body moving. 💪
Fatou is also very calm and quiet, especially when compared to the younger, more playful gorillas at the zoo. 😌
Because Fatou is so old, she has her own special area in the gorilla enclosure, but she can go and play with the younger gorillas whenever she wants.
Her neighbours are Mpenzi (39 years old), Bibi (28), Djambala (23), Sango (20), and little Tilla (4). 🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍
Happy birthday, Fatou, we love you!