Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla in a zoo, is celebrating her 68th birthday in Berlin

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BERLIN (AP) — Fatou, the oldest gorilla living in captivity worldwide, is getting ready for her 68th birthday in style.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/04/2025 (539 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BERLIN (AP) — Fatou, the oldest gorilla living in captivity worldwide, is getting ready for her 68th birthday in style.

The Berlin zoo on Friday presented Fatou with a basket of fruit and vegetables ahead of her official birthday, which falls on Sunday.

Fatou was born in 1957 and came to the zoo in what was then West Berlin in 1959.

Female gorilla Fatou, the oldest of Berlin's zoo and also believed to be the world's oldest gorilla, enjoys her birthday basket with a
Female gorilla Fatou, the oldest of Berlin's zoo and also believed to be the world's oldest gorilla, enjoys her birthday basket with a "gorilla food surprise", as the zoo celebrates her 68th birthday in Berlin, Germany, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Since she no longer has teeth, keepers ensure that her food is soft and easy to eat. Vet André Schüle said that “Fatou gets the best possible care here.”

She lives in her own enclosure, apart from the zoo’s more boisterous other five gorillas, who range in age from 4 to 39. Schüle said that “she has the peace she deserves at her high age.”

Gorillas can live for around 35-40 years in the wild and longer in captivity.

Fatou became the zoo’s oldest resident last year, following the death of Ingo the flamingo. The bird was believed to be at least 75 and had lived at the zoo since 1955.

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