Fatou, a gorilla described by Zoo Berlin as the world’s oldest, celebrated her 69th birthday on Monday with a bamboo bouquet and a basket of vegetables.

A report in the Arab News, there was no birthday cake “because sugar isn’t healthy for the aging primate.”

“Fatou, a western lowland gorilla, arrived in what was then West Berlin in 1959. She was believed to be about two years old at the time, though her exact birth date isn’t known – April 13 is her designated birthday. Gorillas can live for around 35-40 years in the wild and longer in captivity,” the report said.

Fatou became the zoo’s oldest resident in 2024, following the death of Ingo the flamingo. The bird was believed to be at least 75 and had lived at the zoo since 1955.

“That age is very unusual for a gorilla,” said zookeeper Christian Aust, as gorillas in the wild usually live between 35 and 45 years, according to a press release of the zoo.

To mark the occasion, the female gorilla was given lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot and broccoli. Fruit is no longer part of her diet because of its high sugar content and the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders, the press release said.

Fatou arrived in the German capital in 1959, and she have been living in a separate enclosure away from the zoo’s younger gorillas to enjoy a quieter environment, and her health is being closely monitored.

Arab News says, “Fatou was likely born in the wild in western Africa, but the story goes that a French sailor took her out of Africa and bartered her to cover his bar tab in Marseille, France, according to the Guinness World Records. A French animal trader then reportedly sold her to the zoo.”

“She has arthritis; she can no longer fully extend her joints, so she can’t completely straighten her legs and arms,” said curator Jennifer Hahn.

Despite this, Fatou is still able to move around quite well. The zoo said animals in human care often live significantly longer than those in the wild because they are protected from predators and receive regular veterinary care.

In their natural habitat, older and weaker animals are more vulnerable to predators, rivals and food shortages.

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 that she’s friendly with the zookeepers, if still a bit stubborn.

• A Tell Media / Xinhua report