Europe’s oldest Gorilla celebrates 60th Birthday

Usman Haruna

 Europe’s oldest Gorilla celebrates 60th Birthday

Fatou, Europe’s oldest gorilla, marked her 60th birthday on Thursday with a present in the shape of a basket of fruit and vegetables.

Fatou was seen at Berlin Zoo lying on her belly enjoying grapes and bananas, a rare treat, as the animals in the area are only rarely given sweet feed.

Her age is not in fact precisely known.

However, a sailor who offered to give information about Fatou, said she was brought to Berlin in 1959.

Fatou appeared to be in excellent health at her age, Zoo vet Andre Schuele said, adding that though ‘’she does have some signs of arthritis in her joints.’’

“But she copes well with it,’’ Schuele said.

Fatou shares the longevity crown with Trudy, who lives in a zoo in Arkansas and was also born in 1957.

The name, Trudy, is a baby girl name meaning universal strength in German.

NAN