Fatou arrived in what was then West Berlin in 1959, believed to be around two years old at the time. Her exact birthdate remains unknown, but April 13 is celebrated as her designated birthday. She 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 is a western lowland gorilla whose journey began in the wild of western Africa. Guinness World Records notes a tale that a French sailor bartered Fatou to settle a bar tab in Marseille, before she was reportedly sold to the zoo by a French animal trader. She now enjoys her own enclosure, preferring a quiet life away from the zoo's younger gorillas.
Friendly with her keepers, albeit still a little stubborn.
Gorillas typically live for 35-40 years in the wild, but can achieve significantly longer lifespans under human care. Fatou has lost her teeth and experiences some arthritis and hearing loss. According to The Independent - World, Christian Aust, the Berlin Zoo's primate supervisor, described her as friendly with her keepers, albeit still a little stubborn.