World's Oldest Gorilla Celebrates Milestone Birthday and You Won't Believe Her Age
Fatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrated her 69th birthday in the best way possible at the Berlin Zoo.
According to the Associated Press, the zoo made sure to go all out for her birthday celebrations on April 13. While her actual birthday isn't known, the team designated the specific date for the celebration.
Fatou recieved plenty of delicious treats for her big day, including cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce rather than birthday cake. The zoo even arranged for a big sign that displayed her age while she enjoyed her birthday treats.
The Associated Press also reported that Fatou is a Western Lowland Gorilla, who was brought to the Berlin Zoo back in 1959 at approximately two years old, and has stayed at the zoo since.
Based off the reports from the Guniess World Records, Fatou was likely born in the western Africa region, and was taken by a French sailor, who " bartered her to cover his bar tab in Marseille, France." After she was bartered, a French animal trader reportedly then sold her to the zoo after that.
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In the wild, gorillas typically live between 30 and 40 years, but can live longer lives in captivity. She's currently the oldest living gorilla in the world.
The zoo confirmed that now, Fatou lives her life peacefully in her own enclosure since "prefers to keep her distance from the zoo's other gorillas in her old age." At her age, she's also lost her teeth and " suffers from a touch of arthritis and hearing loss."
In a TikTok video posted by 7 News Australia, Fatou was seen enjoying her treats and even had a moment to pose with her basket of snacks. Plently of fans flocked to the comments to send her well wishes and celebrated her huge milestone.
@7newsaustralia Fatou, the world's oldest known gorilla, has turned 69 at Berlin Zoo. #gorilla#birthday#record#animals#zoo
original sound - 7NEWS Australia - 7NEWS Australia
"Congratulations," one person wrote, while another added that "she's lived sooo much."
"I love that she has been so well taken care of that she has reached old age, even for humans ," another user wrote in the comments.
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:09 AM.