Berlin’s Zoo recently celebrated a monumental birthday for Fatou the gorilla, who turned 67, making her not only the zoo’s oldest resident but also the oldest known gorilla in the world.
Photo by Anton Ivanov from Pexels
Berlin’s oldest resident, Fatou the gorilla, just celebrated her 67th birthday, an occasion marked by a special treat of fruits and vegetables. As detailed in her story on Fox News, Fatou was born in 1957 and has been a fixture at the zoo since 1959, living in a habitat of her own and enjoying her golden years with a preference for solitude.
According to Andre Schüle, the zoo’s vet, there is no older gorilla than Fatou documented in any zoo worldwide, and it’s likely there are none older in the wild either, where gorillas do not typically reach such an advanced age. Fatou’s remarkable longevity highlights not just her own resilience but also the care provided by the zoo over the decades.
Fatou’s status as the zoo’s elder was bittersweetly cemented after the recent passing of Ingo the flamingo, who was believed to be at least 75 years old and had lived at the zoo since 1955. Her longevity not only sets a record but also whispers a tale of a life well-nurtured, as she gracefully ages among friends and fans alike.