In the zoo of Frankfurt, Germany, a Bonobo female died last Friday who had reached the age of seventy. According to the Frankfurter Zoo, Margrit was probably the oldest bonobo and oldest great ape in the world.
The zoo announced Margrit’s death on Tuesday. The bonobo died Friday afternoon, “peacefully and swiftly in her group.” This happened within minutes and under the watchful eye of the carers involved. Female monkey Hannah also watched, the zoo writes on its website. The animal was ‘fine’ until the end of her life, but on Wednesday caretakers who knew Margrit well noticed small changes in her. The monkey was less active and ate less than usual, but did not appear to be in pain.
Margrit lived in Frankfurt Zoo for more than sixty years. She was the mother of many monkeys and an important member of the group. The animal got to know many zookeepers. ‘Margrit was a personality, friendly, cooperative and mischievous. Her passing saddens us and leaves a void, especially for the colleagues who have cared for her for many years.
Early 1950s
The bobobo female was probably born in the rainforest of Congo in the early 1950s, according to the zoo. In November 1959 she came over with another female from the zoo of Kinshasa, the capital of the republic. The zoo started the world’s first bonobo breeding program in 1962 with Margrit. In Frankfurt, the monkey gave birth to seven youngsters and she now has more than eighty offspring.
Because bonobos resemble chimpanzees, they were previously also called dwarf chimpanzees. According to the Apenheul Bonobos live an average of 40 to 50 years. In captivity they can grow older.
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