Fatou turns 69
Berlin Zoo celebrated Fatou, described as the zoo’s oldest gorilla, on April 13 when she arrived at her enclosure to mark her 69th birthday — images of the event were included in AP’s top photos roundups. (idahopress.com)
Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla living in captivity, turned 69 at Berlin Zoo on April 13. (zoo-berlin.de) Zoo Berlin said Fatou is a western lowland gorilla and has lived there since 1959, when she arrived in what was then West Berlin. Her exact birth date is unknown, so the zoo marks her birthday each year on April 13. (abcnews.com) Her birthday meal this year was built around vegetables, including cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce. Zoo staff skipped cake because sugar is not considered healthy for an aging gorilla. (apnews.com) Berlin Zoo said Fatou now lives in her own enclosure away from the larger gorilla group, and staff monitor her closely with veterinarians, curators and keepers. The zoo said she moves more slowly with age and needs more time for daily routines. (zoo-berlin.de) The zoo also said it recently adjusted her diet and now gives her several small meals a day instead of fruit-heavy feeding. Staff spread food around the enclosure and place some in enrichment items to keep her active while matching her age-related needs. (zoo-berlin.de) Fatou’s age stands out because gorillas in captivity typically live about 40 to 50 years, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness lists her as the oldest living gorilla in captivity. (guinnessworldrecords.com) Her species also faces pressure far beyond Berlin. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the western lowland gorilla as Critically Endangered, citing population losses tied to poaching, disease and habitat loss. (iucnredlist.org) Zoo director Andreas Knieriem said animals like Fatou help draw attention to the protection of western lowland gorillas in the wild. On her 69th birthday, that message arrived with a plate of beets and lettuce instead of cake. (zoo-berlin.de)
