Fatou, the oldest gorilla in captivity, is preparing to celebrate her 68th birthday in style. The Berlin Zoo presented her with a basket of fruits and vegetables on Friday, ahead of her official birthday, which falls on Sunday.
Born in 1957, Fatou arrived at the zoo in 1959, when it was still located in West Berlin. Since she no longer has teeth, her keepers make sure her food is soft and easy to eat. Veterinarian André Schüle assured that Fatou receives the best possible care at the zoo.
Fatou resides in her own enclosure, separate from the zoo’s other five gorillas, whose ages range from 4 to 39. Schüle added that she enjoys the peace and quiet she deserves at her advanced age.
While gorillas typically live 35-40 years in the wild, they tend to live longer in captivity. Fatou became the zoo’s oldest resident last year after the death of Ingo, a flamingo believed to be at least 75, who had lived at the zoo since 1955.
