World’s oldest gorilla celebrates her 69th birthday

13 Apr 2026 • 10:25 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

World’s oldest gorilla celebrates her 69th birthday

  • Fatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrated her 69th birthday at Berlin Zoo.
  • She enjoyed a special sugar-free feast of cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks, and lettuce.
  • A western lowland gorilla, Fatou arrived at the zoo in 1959, believed to be around two years old.
  • Her designated birthday is April 13, and she became the zoo's most senior resident in 2024.
  • Despite age-related challenges such as arthritis and hearing loss, she is described as friendly with keepers but still stubborn.

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