World's oldest gorilla celebrates birthday

The world's oldest living gorilla in captivity Jenny celebrated her 55th birthday Thursday in the Dallas Zoo with a four-layer frozen fruitcake.

Jenny is a western lowland gorilla, and arrived at the Dallas Zoo in 1957 when she was 4 years old. She gave birth in 1965 to a female named Vicki, who was sent to Alberta, Canada, at age 5.

Jenny's caretakers said she's having a few joint issues and her eyesight isn't what it used to be but she still looks good for an old ape. They described her as very sweet though a little bossy.

"If she doesn't want to go out on a certain day, she doesn't," one of her keepers said. "But she really likes people."

Gorillas in the wild normally would live to age 30 or 35. Health care and protection from predators has extended the lifespan in zoos.

The International Species Information System, which maintains records on animals at 700 institutions around the world, said Jenny is the oldest gorilla in its database.

"I think it's amazing," said Kristen Lukas, curator of conservation and science at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio and the gorilla species survival plan coordinator for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "I think it's a testament to the good care that Jenny has received at the Dallas Zoo and also the resilience of gorillas in general."