World News for Students of English

17-04-2025 07:00

Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla, has just celebrated her 68th birthday at the Berlin Zoo. She is a Western Lowland Gorilla, a species native to parts of Central Africa and classified as critically endangered due to habitat loss.

Fatou arrived at the zoo when she was about two years old and has lived there for 66 years. In the wild, gorillas usually live only 30 to 40 years, so her age is remarkable. Despite her age, Fatou is doing well. She has stiff joints and can’t fully straighten her arms or legs due to arthrosis, a common condition in elderly gorillas, but she’s still in good spirits. Her movements are slower and a bit hunched, but she doesn’t need much medical care.

Zoo veterinarians help her by adjusting her diet since she no longer has teeth. She eats cooked vegetables and gets fruit as a treat. Fatou is watched closely by the staff to make sure she stays healthy. She may be older, but she’s still strong and beloved at the zoo.

Difficult words: remarkable (unusual, extraordinary), arthrosis (a joint disease), hunched (leaning forward with your shoulders raised).

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