Kyiv Zoo Throws Birthday Picnic to Celebrate Tony the Gorilla’s 50th Anniversary

Kyiv Zoo is gearing up to celebrate a momentous occasion — the 50th birthday of its beloved gorilla, Tony. To mark this special milestone, the zoo will host a four-day birthday picnic on its picturesque Island of Beasts, starting on August 8.

Visitors will have the opportunity to witness Tony indulge in a special birthday feast each day at 10:30 AM. The celebration will continue until August 11.

On August 8, 1974, Tony, a lowland gorilla, was born to parents Fritz and Delphi at Nuremberg Zoo. Known for his egocentric and solitary nature from a young age, Tony underwent extensive socialization efforts by German specialists. Over two decades, he called several zoos home, including Nuremberg, Hanover, and Saarbrucken.

In 1999, curators at the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) decided to transfer Tony the gorilla to the Kyiv Zoo.

The Kyiv Zoo workers describe Tony as an exceptionally intelligent animal, noting that “Tony understands everything.” Through training, he’s learned to communicate with the zookeepers—he can gesture when he’s hungry or wants the TV turned on. He even knows how to joke and is aware of everything happening around him. Tony shows empathy, feeling sad when a staff member is ill and happy when he meets familiar faces. He enjoys green twigs in winter, the tastiest fruits, and his favorite yogurt, which he knows how to open himself. The zoo staff also make new toys for him regularly, but his old favorite blankets and balls are always kept. The zoo director visits him daily, and Tony recognizes when they’ve come to see him.

It was previously reported that Tony has developed a range of chronic health issues due to his advanced age. Tony has spent most of his life at the Kyiv Zoo and has been on a special diet for an extended period, following recommendations from specialists at the EAZA and the Institute of Wildlife Veterinary Medicine, Berlin.

Tony’s physical condition and behavior are under constant observation by zookeepers. Additionally, experts from the European animal care community closely monitor his well-being. All of Tony’s vital signs are diligently measured and recorded in the Species 360: Zoological Information Management System, an international electronic database.