The oldest gorilla in the world, called Fatou, turned 68 at the Berlin Zoo, Germany, this Friday (11).
To celebrate, she received a basket full of fruit and vegetable delights.
The average life expectancy of gorillas in general is 35 to 40 years.
Fatou is from the Gorilla-Worse-of-Terras-Terras Subspecies. These animals live in the tropical forests of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon and Republic of Congo and are the largest species of primate, weighing up to 200 kg.
Despite the advanced age, gorilla health is evaluated as good, although it suffers from pain, as stiffness in knees and arms and arthrosis, according to Andre Schuele, veterinarian at the Berlin Zoo.
“She is not a patient, so she is in a good mood and does not need our support except for a small adaptation in the diet. But taking it very, very, very well,” added Schuele.
Since there are no more teeth, the primate needs cooked vegetables, and breaking nuts is no longer an option.
But, in return, he said – unlike the other gorillas – can eat some fruits. On the day of the birthday, she was delighted with strawberries, plums and apples.
According to the Berlin Zoo, the kettle-kettle-ceiling gorillas are a threatened subspecies due to the continuous decimation of their natural habitat.
With less than 95,000 free individuals in nature, it is classified as a “critical species” by the International Union for Nature Conservation.
This content was originally published in the oldest gorilla in the world turns 68 in Berlin on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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