He's the oldest swinger in town but let the great ape eat cake, it is his 40th birthday.
A tiered-cake was among the 40 gifts and treats to greet Pertinax, Britain’s oldest male gorilla, on his landmark birthday today.
In 1998, a year after arriving at Paignton Zoo in Devon, Pert, as he is lovingly known by staff, met the Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
And in 2019, ahead of the rugby world cup, he once again made headlines by showing his sporting skills.
He was pictured running with a rugby ball, prompting zoo staff to say he would be a perfect prop, hooker or full-back.
Silverback Pert is a father of three different groups of sons and a part of a vital European breeding programme for critically endangered western lowland gorillas.
He lives with his sons N’Dowe, Kivu and Kiondo and his friend Claus, who came over from Germany with him. Senior keeper Gemma Keohane said: “Pert is an absolute dream to work with. In his retirement, his personality has really mellowed.
“He is much more relaxed and even plays with keepers, something that he never really did before. He enjoys listening to music, especially when we sing to him. Working with Pert and the boys has been the highlight of my career.”
Gorillas normally live between 35 to 40 years.
