Uganda’s oldest chimpanzee celebrates 44th birthday

[Ulli]

Uganda’s oldest chimpanzee celebrates 44th birthday

by Paul Amoru

Kampala



The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Uwec) Entebbe will this Friday host well-wishers to a lavish birthday party, probably not seen in the recent past.

It will not be the birthday party of any political or bureaucratic bigwigs, but Zakayo, the oldest chimp at Uwec that will be turning 44.

“Zakayo the alpha male is one of our flagship animals at the centre. We will celebrate his birthday with a couple of activities,” Uwec said in a press statement to Daily Monitor. Zakayo is said to be a favourite to visitors at the Centre.

“He is a historical member of the centre whom we think deserves a celebrated birthday with the public,” the statement read.
Similar occasions organised in the past saw school children line up to witness the birthday celebration, participate in a quiz competition and question-answer session, organised by the zoo authorities on the occasion in a bid to spread the conservation message.

According to Uwec, Zakayo was found in June 1972 at Semiliki in Bundibugyo and was hand-raised. The chimp was later surrendered to the Entebbe Zoo on June 10, 1976. The chimp is said to be very fatherly.

According to Uwec, “Zakayo has sired eight offsprings and is very protective towards the younger chimps. He is always the last to go out in the mornings and the last to get inside in the evenings.”
 
Uwec appealed to the public to continue supporting the centre.
Tourism was declared Uganda’s second largest income earner last year.

Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Uganda_s_oldest_chimpanzee_celebrates_44th_birthday_69778.shtml

Here is something about his last birtday on monkeydaynews: http://monkeydaynews.blogspot.com/search?q=Zakayo

[P J C]

I Salute the old son of a gun.

[mord]

Could he the dem candidate he looks better then obama

[Ulli]

Look how nice the people are to their apes. Uganda is to 85 % Christian.

To the Muslim miniority belonged, what a surprise ,  the evil jewhating dictator Idi Amin.

[mord]

Look how nice the people are to their apes. Uganda is to 85 % Christian.

To the Muslim miniority belonged, what a surprise ,  the evil jewhating dictator Idi Amin.

He gave himself medals moslems would kill the ape

[P J C]

Could he the dem candidate he looks better then obama

He probably has more experience than Obama.

[mord]

Could he the dem candidate he looks better then obama

He probably has more experience than Obama.

I would'nt be suprised

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

;DHappy Birthday Al Sharpton! May you live to be 120!

[Rubystars]

In a way I think it's sad they're cooking a special cake for this animal when they should be feeding some starving African kids. Then again I'm glad the chimp is getting good care.

How would you think those kids would feel though if they saw that image of an ape being fed good food while they're hungry and starving?

[White Israelite]

When you said chimpanzee, I thought you meant black man.

[Rubystars]

When you said chimpanzee, I thought you meant black man.

Sometimes it is easy to get that confused. 

[Ulli]

When you said chimpanzee, I thought you meant black man.

No I don't. I really meant the ape.

My untold point was how nice Christians are to their apes and how evil Muslims are like in Indonesia.

Are living in Israel apes?

[Shamgar]

Which one is in the cage. It is hard to tell from the picture.

[MasterWolf1]

Oh a real chimp, them I like.  I thought it was one of Sharptons relatives

[briann]

Wow. 44!!!!  What are they feeding those chimps?

[Zelhar]

Wow. 44!!!!  What are they feeding those chimps?

yes, that's like 80 in Ugandan years.

[Ulli]

Wow. 44!!!!  What are they feeding those chimps?

I read they feed him with banana cake.