Fatou is turning the big 6-8. And that’s a big deal at the Berlin Zoo in Germany. Fatou is the oldest gorilla living in a zoo anywhere in the world. She’s even a gorilla grandma.

How did Fatou celebrate her birthday? The zoo threw her a party. 

Zookeepers gave her a basket filled with soft fruits and squishy veggies. (Mmmm, her favorites.) Poor old Fatou no longer has teeth. So her keepers make sure her food is easy to chew—or gum.

Vet André Schüle says, “Fatou gets the best care here.” It shows! In the wild, gorillas usually live about 35 to 40 years. But in zoos with good care, they can live much longer. Zoo gorillas get healthy food regularly. The zoo also gives them activities like puzzles to solve or snacks to find. That helps keep their brains sharp and their bodies fit.

Have you ever trained a dog using a treat? Or played with a cat using a toy on a string? Zookeepers do something like that for animals like Fatou. They create fun games that challenge the animals’ instincts to keep them thinking, moving, and content. 

Zookeepers make sure each creature gets vet check-ups, medicine if sick, and enough rest.

Caring for animals is important—and not just for zookeepers. The Bible tells us to care for God’s creatures. 

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast. — Proverbs 12:10

Why? As stewards of God’s creation, people are responsible to care for God’s creatures well.

Recommended Reading: For more about animal lifespans, read How Old Is a Whale? by Lily Murray.