Zakayo, the oldest known captive chimpanzee who has lived at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Entebbe Zoo for about 42 years on Thursday passed on at 54. Preliminary findings suggest that he succumbed to Chronic Gastroenteritis. Due to his old age, he was highly susceptible to infections.
Who was Zakayo?
On June 10, 1964, Zakayo then aged one year was rescued by a white man in Bundibugyo District and was natured till the age of 14 years.
At the age of 14, was surrendered to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) where he has lived for over 42 year until Thursday evening when he breathed his last.
Zakayo who is survived by one child, Shaka 17 and two wives, Amina and Ruth will not be buried but rather his intestines, so that his body is stored as a tourist attraction.
His other child Yanki had passed away a few years back.
His intestines will be buried today at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, at 2pm.
Zakayo has been the most demotic chimpanzee in Uganda.
The news of his sudden death was confirmed through a statement from UWEC which read;
“Please join us as we celebrate the life of this legendary chimpanzee who once lived as a dominant male and brought up the chimpanzee family at UWEC. He nurtured two Alpha male chimpanzees, Matooke, who led the group up to 2013, and Aluma who took over in 2013 up to today. May his soul RIP,” the statement continues.
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