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The oldest gorilla in the world marked her 69th birthday on Monday, enjoying a meal of cherry tomatoes, beetroots, leeks, and lettuce at theBerlin Zoo.

However, there was no birthday cake, as sugar is not beneficial for the aging primate.

Fatou, a western lowland gorilla residing in captivity, came to what was previously West Berlin in 1959.

She was thought to be approximately two years old at that time, and while her precise birthdate remains unknown, April 13 is assigned as her birthday.

Gorillas typically survive between 35 and 40 years in their natural habitat, but can live longer when kept in captivity.

Fatou was recognized as the zoo’s eldest inhabitant in 2024, after Ingo the flamingo passed away.

The bird was thought to be at least 75 years old and had been residing at the zoo since 1955.

Fatou was probably born in the wild in western Africa, but the tale suggests that a French sailor took her from Africa and exchanged her to settle his bar bill in Marseille, France, as noted by Guinness World Records.

A French animal dealer is said to have sold her to the zoo.

Currently, Fatou resides in a space she has created for herself and tends to maintain her separation from the other gorillas at the zoo in her later years.

She has lost her teeth and is experiencing some arthritis along with hearing loss.

However, Christian Aust, the primate supervisor at the Berlin Zoo, mentioned that she gets along well with the keepers, although she remains somewhat stubborn.

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