The Fort Worth Zoo is honoring one of its most cherished residents, a silverback gorilla thought to be the oldest in the world.
Ramses, who celebrated his 52nd birthday on Wednesday, appears to have won the affection of the staff members at the institution where he shares a home with his longtime partner Amani.
Ramses’ caretaker mentions the gorilla’s private life as one of the factors contributing to his longevity in a video that was released on the zoo’s Twitter account.
“Being in the back area, we’re able to keep a closer eye on him during the day and make sure that he’s doing okay,” said Linda Roberts, the zoo’s primate supervisor. Therefore, we have more opportunities to communicate with him and see him we can judge how he’s doing better.”
Roberts said zoo officials believe the primate to be the oldest silverback in the world, but you wouldn’t think it from observing the massive mammal.
Ramses is shown in the video eating an orange, moving around his habitat without difficulty, and even sticking his tongue out in good humor when his health is being checked.
The gorilla, who is renowned for his human expressions and deft side-eye, arrived in Fort Worth for the first time in 1992 and has since charmed generations.
