Whipsnade Zoo’s oldest primate Koko the chimpanzee turns 50 

Koko the chimpanzee has celebrated reaching the milestone age of 50 at Whipsnade Zoo. 

The conservation zoo’s oldest mammal marked her incredible half-century on Sunday, June 4 while tucking into a smorgasbord of her favourite foods - including gem lettuces and cherry tomatoes - before playing in the sunshine with younger chimps Phil, Grant and Elvis.  

Koko the Chimpanzee celebrates her 50th birthday at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Whipsnade Zoo)

Whipsnade Zoo primate keeper Grant Timberlake said Koko still has the energy of a young chimpanzee, despite outliving the average chimp by more than a decade.

“Koko might have just turned 50 but she’s still in brilliant health, thanks to the dedicated care of our zookeepers and veterinary team," Grant said. 

“Particularly when she sees her favourite food, it’s like she’s 20 years young again – climbing and swinging as fast as she can through the trees to reach it."

Born at Dudley Zoo, Koko moved to London Zoo when she was nine, before heading to the UK’s largest zoo aged 33.

Seventeen years later, Koko has joined the ‘Golden Club’ at the conservation zoo, alongside Gladys the flamingo - the zoo’s oldest animal - who will turn 53 in July.

Gladys the Flamingo (right) turns 53 in July at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Whipsnade Zoo)

Grant added that chimpanzees have incredible memories and explained that Koko had lived through some major wildlife milestones while living at ZSL’s two conservation zoos - as well as contributing to an important conservation project for her species.  

“In the past 50 years, Extinct-in-the-Wild Pere David’s deer from Whipsnade Zoo were successfully reintroduced back to China, the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip opened the Centre for Elephant Care at Whipsnade and ZSL camera-traps captured the first ever photos of chimpanzees at Douala-Edea National Park in Cameroon,” he said. 

“Koko herself has voluntarily contributed to several important conservation project for her species, helping to improve and protect the health of chimpanzees around the world.

"Our veterinary team work closely with the chimpanzees at Whipsnade Zoo, training them to use finger monitors so the team can gather ECG readings, as well as allowing vets to conduct ultrasound examinations on their hearts.”  

Koko the chimpanzee celebrating her 50th birthday at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Whipsnade Zoo)

This critically important data is shared with the International Primate Heart Project (IPHP), as well as the Great Ape Heart Project.

GAHP is an international organisation working to investigate and understand the issue of cardiovascular disease in great apes. The project works to create a centralised database on great ape heart health, fuelling important research projects, as well as ensuring the primates receive the best possible care at conservation centres around the world.  

“Like a lot of humans when they get older, Koko has developed mild arthritis in her hands, but thanks to the care she receives, it hasn’t slowed her down at all,” Grant added.

“Our vet team treat the inflammation with soothing, low level laser treatments – a simple but effective way to help her remain pain-free and fully mobile. We hope to celebrate many more birthdays with Koko at Whipsnade Zoo.” 

Visitors can see Koko and the rest of the chimpanzee family, as well as 10,000 other animals at Whipsnade Zoo this June.

To book a ticket today visit www.whipsnadezoo.org   

Koko the chimpanzee has celebrated her 50th birthday at Whipsnade Zoo. (Image: Whipsnade Zoo)

50 years of milestones in Koko’s life:  

• 1973 – Koko is born at Dudley Zoo.  
• 1986 – ZSL helps re-introduce Extinct-in-the-Wild Pere David’s deer from Whipsnade Zoo back into selected areas of China – a huge success for conservation of the species. 
• 2016 – Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip opened the Centre for Elephant Care at Whipsnade, a new space dedicated to the protection of the threatened species.
• 2022 – ZSL camera-traps captured the first ever photos of chimpanzees at Douala-Edea National Park in Cameroon, proving for the first time that a population was living in the area - enabling conservationists to track the population and their health. 
• 2023 – Koko turns 50.