Fatou, a gorilla at the Berlin Zoo, has celebrated her 69th birthday, marking her status as the oldest gorilla living in captivity worldwide. Her milestone comes after she became the zoo's oldest resident in 2024, following the death of Ingo the flamingo. For her birthday, Fatou was presented with a feast of cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks, and lettuce.
She did not receive a birthday cake because sugar is not healthy for her, according to the Berlin Zoo. Fatou arrived in West Berlin in 1959 during the Cold War, when she was believed to be about two years old. She was likely born in the wild in western Africa.
She is friendly with the zookeepers, but still a bit stubborn.
According to Guinness World Records, a French sailor captured Fatou and bartered her to cover his bar tab in Marseilles, France. A French animal trader reportedly sold her to the Berlin Zoo. In the wild, gorillas can live for around 35-40 years.
In captivity, gorillas can live longer due to care and medication. Fatou's status as the Berlin Zoo's oldest resident follows the death of Ingo the flamingo, who was believed to be at least 75 years old and had lived at the zoo since 1955. Currently, Fatou lives in her own enclosure at the Berlin Zoo and prefers to keep her distance from other gorillas.
She has lost her teeth, suffers from arthritis, and has hearing loss. Christian Aust, the Berlin Zoo's primate supervisor, says Fatou is friendly with zookeepers but still a bit stubborn. Fatou has lived a life of captivity for human entertainment.