World’s Oldest Gorilla Turns 67 Years Young!

Christina Thompson (Anchor, EarthxNews): A gorilla at the Berlin Zoo is celebrating a big birthday. Fatu, a female Western lowland gorilla living at the zoo since the late 50’s recently turned 67! To mark the special occasion, zookeepers prepared a basket of fruit, which included goodies like strawberries. Wildlife officials at the zoo say this is a special treat because fruit contains too much sugar for the primates, so they are usually kept on a vegetable diet. Scientists say, in the wild, gorillas can live between 35 and 40 years which leads some people — including the zoo’s veterinarian — to believe Fatu may likely be the oldest gorilla alive.

Dr. Andre Schüle, Veterinarian at the Berlin Zoo: So there’s no gorilla in the world that has reached such an advanced age. We know for sure from gorillas kept in zoos. And we have to assume that in the wild — where the animals never reach such an old age as they do in zoos — that there is no animal older than her. We are therefore proud to say that this is the oldest gorilla in the world.

THOMPSON: Western lowland gorillas usually live in a group of several female gorillas and one male gorilla, or the Silverback. But at the zoo Fatu has her own private enclosure. Not to worry though; she can have contact with her fellow gorillas anytime she wants.