Celebrating Fatou: World’s Oldest Captive Gorilla Turns 69 Today!

BERLIN — Fatou, the oldest gorilla living in captivity, marked a major milestone as she celebrated her 69th birthday at the Berlin Zoo. Her special day was highlighted by a delicious spread of cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks, and lettuce, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

However, a traditional birthday cake was off the menu, as sugary treats aren’t suitable for the venerable primate’s health.

Fatou, a western lowland gorilla, made her way to what was then West Berlin back in 1959. She was about two years old at the time, although her exact birth date remains unknown, with April 13 serving as her designated birthday. While gorillas in the wild typically live between 35 to 40 years, those in captivity often enjoy longer lifespans.

In 2024, Fatou became the Berlin Zoo’s oldest resident, succeeding Ingo the flamingo, who passed away that year. Ingo had been a cherished zoo inhabitant since 1955 and was believed to be at least 75 years old.

According to Guinness World Records, Fatou’s journey likely began in the wilds of western Africa. Legend has it that a French sailor brought her out of Africa, trading her in Marseille, France, to settle a bar tab. She eventually found her way to the Berlin Zoo through a French animal trader.

These days, Fatou lives in an enclosure of her own and prefers to keep her distance from the zoo’s other gorillas in her old age. She’s lost her teeth and she suffers from a touch of arthritis and hearing loss.

But Christian Aust, the Berlin Zoo’s primate supervisor, said she’s friendly with the zookeepers, if still a bit stubborn.

At 69 years old, she’s earned it. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Fatou.