Berlin’s zoo is thrilled to celebrate the 67th birthday of Fatou, its oldest resident and a gorilla who is believed to be the oldest in the world. Fatou was born in 1957 and came to the zoo in what was then West Berlin in 1959. To commemorate her special day, keepers at the zoo served up a special treat of fruit and vegetables.
Vet Andre Schüle stated that there is no other gorilla older than Fatou in any other zoo, and it is likely that there is no animal older than her in the wild. This is because animals in the wild typically do not live as long as those in captivity. Fatou lives in her own enclosure and prefers to keep her distance from the other gorillas in the zoo as she ages.
Fatou became the zoo’s oldest resident after Ingo, a flamingo who lived at the zoo since 1955 and was believed to be at least 75 years old, passed away earlier this year. The zoo staff are thrilled to celebrate Fatou’s milestone birthday and continue to care for her as she enjoys her golden years.
