Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla living in captivity, has marked her 69th birthday with a special, sugar-free feast at Berlin Zoo.
The primate enjoyed a spread of cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks, and lettuce, eschewing traditional cake for a healthier, age-appropriate meal.
A western lowland gorilla, Fatou arrived in what was then West Berlin in 1959, believed to be around two years old at the time.
While her exact birthdate remains unknown, April 13 is celebrated as her designated birthday. Gorillas typically live for 35-40 years in the wild, but can achieve significantly longer lifespans under human care.
Fatou became the zoo’s most senior resident in 2024 following the passing of Ingo the flamingo, who was thought to be at least 75 and had resided at the zoo since 1955.
Fatou’s remarkable journey began in the wild of western Africa, with Guinness World Records noting a tale that a French sailor bartered her to settle a bar tab in Marseille, before she was reportedly sold to the zoo by a French animal trader.
Today, Fatou enjoys her own enclosure, preferring a quiet life away from the zoo’s younger gorillas.
She has lost her teeth and experiences some arthritis and hearing loss. Despite these age-related challenges, Christian Aust, the Berlin Zoo’s primate supervisor, describes her as friendly with her keepers, albeit still a little stubborn.
At 69, it seems she has certainly earned the right.
