The gorilla, who has been photographed eating cake throughout the years on her birthday, was given something else to feast on this time
Credit: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla in captivity, celebrated her 69th birthday at the Berlin Zoo on Monday, April 13
- Instead of a birthday cake, the zoo gave the aging primate a basket of beets, broccoli, lettuce and other vegetables
- “She is a special ambassador for conservation and represents her critically endangered species in the wild,” the zoo said
The world’s oldest gorilla in captivity just turned 69.
Fatou, who arrived at the Berlin Zoo in 1959, marked her birthday on Monday, April 13, by feasting on a special menu of healthy items suitable for the aging primate, as seen in photos of Fatou with her birthday basket.
She consumed a variety of vegetables — such as beets, broccoli and lettuce — instead of birthday cake to avoid consuming added sugars.
Credit: Paul Zinken/picture alliance via Getty (2)
The healthy birthday basket is a noticeable contrast to the treats of yesteryear for Fatou, who has been photographed eating cake throughout the years on her birthday, including on her 58th birthday in 2015.
It appears the last time Fatou scarfed down cake on her birthday was in 2022 when she turned 65. The cake was topped with berries.
Credit: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The following year, for her 66th birthday in 2023, Fatou received a basket full of vegetables and fruit. A watermelon was emblazoned with “66.”
Three years later, in 2026, the Berlin Zoo emphasized on social media that Fatou “is not only the zoo’s oldest resident but also remains the oldest gorilla in human care worldwide.”
“With her remarkable age, she is a special ambassador for conservation and represents her critically endangered species in the wild,” the zoo said. “Her care is continuously adapted to her individual needs – including plenty of opportunities for retreat as well as targeted enrichment to support both her physical and mental well-being.”
The zoo concluded. “We wish her all the best on her special day!”
Read the full article here
