No, not the oldest Zoochatters, that's one for again, but what is the oldest animal in your local Zoo, Animal Park, Animal collection, Aquarium, etc,, Lets see if we can find a few oldies around the zoo world and how old can we get?
I have a desert tortoise that I have had for 30 years that I reckon is at least 55-60 but I imagine the winners will be the Galapagos tortoises that came in during the early 30s
My boss at the Capron Park Zoo has worked there for 18 years and she says the silvery-cheeked hornbill has been at the zoo longer than her.
Real age of Galapagos tortoise Eberhard here in Prague is not known, but in 1969, he was already full grown. He should be at least 80 years old now. Elephant cow Gulab is 59 (plus minus 1 year). Oldest Caribbean flamingo was taken by fox last year, but she was imported in 1965 from Cuba and already adult at that time. Oldest cinereous vulture female came 46 years ago. Bearded vulture pair Pablo and Penelopa came in 1971, wild-caught. Chinese giant salamander Karlo is around 40.
The breeding female Galapagos tortoise in Zurich arrived in 1946 and is estimated to be 82 years. I am sure there are some older tortoises and possibly Tuatara around.
Henry the Tuatara kept at the Southland Museum in New Zealand is reputed to be around 110 years old, although obviously that is an "estimate".
At my local zoo, The Sacramento Zoo, A Desert Tortoise named Herkimer is about 91 years old. About as old as the zoo, actually.
Dudley have the legendary Inca, the Asiatic black bear who's 39(ish). It was also home to a geriatric Geoffroy's cat, and possibly one of the oldest babirusa in the country but both have now passed on. Some of the ex-London chimp's must be getting on as well, maybe @Pertinax or @Tim May may know?
Some of the San Diego Zoo's Galapagos tortoises have been there since 1928 (the zoo was established in 1916). Galápagos Tortoise
Yeah Inca the Asiatic black bear will be 39 next year and is still going strong. The Geoffroy's cat ('Bart') was 22 when he was PTS in 2016. The babirusa ('Nick') was 18 when he passed away in 2015. They also had a female Patagonian sea lion ('Cleo') who passed away aged 28 in 2016. In 2016 a female Chilean flamingo ('Beryl'), who was believed to be the zoo's oldest animal, passed away. She was thought to be in her "mid-fifties" as she was known to be at the zoo in the early 1970s and already an adult. He'll not be anywhere near the oldest around, but Dudley also has a male Bornean Orangutan ('Benji'), who will be 41 this year. Dudley's oldest chimp ('Fanny') was born in 1974.
Wow, didn't realise he was that old. Explains his more laid back attitude! That's surprised me, thought at least one the ladies would be in their fifties now.
The lake direct wildlife park claim to have a lar gibbon that had lived in London zoo in the last 60s.
Can anyone confirm whether the ex-London Zoo female American alligator is still alive at Thrigby Hall ? Assuming she is, she must be over seventy. This alligator arrived at London Zoo shortly after World War 2 and was sent to Thrigby Hall about a quarter-of-a-century ago. She was certainly still alive and well a year or two ago.
I worked with a rough-legged hawk that was at least 38 when she passed away. Pretty old by hawk standards.
They have 3 at Thrigby I think, a pair and another held separately which has been the same since I fist visited around 5 years ago, so fair chance she's still alive
Is that the one in the outdoor enclosure just before you enter the swamp house? If so, I had no idea she was so old. I can't confirm whether it's still there (if I've got the right one) as I haven't visited for years, but I always remember that animal as every time I visited, often years apart, it would always be lying on the grass in exactly in the same place.
I think Hamerton have a lar gibbon that turned 50 this year Rajang - male orangutan at Colchester (born Chester) turned 50 this year. Babydoll - female gorilla Howletts 57 Is Delilah at Belfast still alive ? Must be similar age
Our male Lar Gibbon 'Ben' was wild caught in Thailand, and arrived at Paignton in 1958 as a young adult. He was paired to a female from the same import called 'Sally'. On her death he was transferred to Guernsey Zoo along with a hand-reared, presumed wild-taken female called 'Jill' both via Ravensden. This pair was received at Hamerton with the rest of the Guernsey Zoo collection when it closed, and had many youngsters both at Guernsey and at Hamerton. 'Ben' is fit and well and lives with his last daughter 'Ash' who was born at Hamerton. (The early part of this information was from personal communication with James Thomas the Director of the Zoological Trust of Guernsey, and puts 'Ben' at least 61 years old.)
