Berlin Zoo Celebrates 67th Birthday of World's Oldest Gorilla

Berlin's zoo is commemorating the remarkable 67th birthday of Fatou the gorilla, marking her as the oldest resident at the facility and potentially the oldest gorilla in the world. Fatou was brought to the zoo in 1959, two years after her birth in 1957, within what was then West Berlin.

Celebrations and Treats

The zookeepers marked the occasion a day early, serving Fatou a special treat of delectable fruit and vegetables in anticipation of her official birthday celebration on Saturday.

Aged With Grace

Veterinarian Andre Schüle affirmed that there is no other gorilla in any zoo older than Fatou, and it is plausible that she is also the oldest gorilla in the wild, where the lifespan of animals is notably shorter.

Retirement and Loss

In her advanced years, Fatou has chosen to reside in her own enclosure, maintaining a distance from the other gorillas at the zoo. Her status as the zoo's eldest denizen was a recent development after the passing earlier this year of Ingo the flamingo, a resident since 1955 and thought to have reached an age of at least 75.