Uganda’s Oldest Known Chimpanzee, Zakayo Dies at 54

Few weeks after eleven lions were killed in Queen Elizabeth national park sparking criticism from numerous conservationists, Uganda’s tourism sector has been hit by yet another blow as the oldest known chimpanzee in the country dies.

Zakayo the famous chimp that has been inhabiting the zoo in Entebbe has died at the age of 54.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) reported that the male chimpanzee died on Thursday.

“With deep sorrow and grief, UWEC (Entebbe Zoo) hereby announces the death of Zakayo, a 54-year old male chimpanzee, who has lived at UWEC for 42 years,” a statement by UWEC read.

According to the statement, preliminary findings suggest that Zakayo succumbed to Chronic Gastroenteritis.

“Due to his old age, he was highly susceptible to opportunistic infections. Please join us as we celebrate the life of this legendary chimpanzee who once lived as a dorminant male and brought up the chimpanzee family at UWEC”.

The chimpanzee whose birthday had become an annual calendar event for conservationists in Uganda has left two alpha male chimpanzees.

One of them named Matooke led the group up to 2013, while the other, Aluma took over in 2013 up to today.

It is said that Zakayo was rescued in Bundibugyo, Western Uganda in 1964 at age 1 by an unnamed white man who kept him for thirteen years.

The chimp would 12 years later find a new habitat at the Entebbe Zoo where he grew to become the oldest known chimp in Uganda till the day he died.

It is said that the life span of a chimpanzee living in the wild is 45 while those in the zoo can live as long as 60 years.