Uganda’s oldest chimpanzee, Zakayo, turns 54!

Uganda’s oldest chimpanzee Zakayo,celebrates his 54th birthday today.The celebrations are going to be at Entebbe zoo where he will be joined by wildlife conservationists in the celebrations.

Zakayo represents a captive chimpanzee conservation success in Uganda. Although he is no longer the alpha male, Zakayo is still a highly respected member of the 18 strong troop of chimpanzees at UWEC.

He has seen the rise of Matooke,Aluma and Onapa challenge each other for the alpha male position.

Chimpanzees are man’s closest living relatives, sharing more than 98 percent of our genetic blueprint. Humans and chimps are also thought to share a common ancestor who lived some four to eight million years ago.

They are social animals which live in communities with their own leaders, parenting skills and knowledge passed on from one generation to another.

Chimps can live for about 45 years in the wild and over 60 years in captivity.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZAKAYO

Uganda’s oldest chimpanzee Zakayo turns 54