World’s oldest gorilla fatou celebrates birthday with vegetable feast at Berlin Zoo
Berlin: On April 13, the world’s oldest gorilla celebrated her birthday with a vegetable feast at the Berlin Zoo. Named Fatou, the western lowland gorilla has far outlived any known member of her species from the wild. No one knows exactly how she was taken from her home in Africa, but one story says she was brought to France by a sailor who later had to sell her to settle a bar debt. She eventually arrived in Berlin via a French animal trader.
The Berlin Zoo cannot confirm the tale, but says she did arrive at West Berlin Zoo in 1959 at the age of 2. Zookeepers have no record of her birthdate, so they picked April 13 as her birthday. Guinness World Records recognized Fatou as the world’s oldest gorilla.
“Fatou looks at you and looks right into your soul,” said Philine Hachmeister, a spokesperson for Zoo Berlin. “She has this dignity. She looks at you, and it’s like looking at your grandma. That’s what I’m thinking every time I go past her.
”Fatou shares more than a demeanor with a grandmother. She doesn’t move very fast anymore and manages a mix of age-related conditions. Her eyesight is poor, she has arthritis, and zookeepers watch her blood sugar carefully. That means raspberries and blueberries, once her favorite food, are now off the menu.
This year, Fatou marked her birthday with vegetables prepared by her care team. From an uncertain start to a celebrated life in Berlin, the gorilla continues to be a beloved figure at the zoo.
