Oldest hominids explained

Humans are the longest-lived hominid species, with Jeanne Calment being the oldest confirmed hominid after living 122 years. Other members of the Hominidae family are shorter-lived, and this article lists the oldest known individuals of each hominid species.

Chimpanzees


† denotes age at death, or, if living, age as of

This list includes all some individuals to have reached the age of 60 years or more. The average lifespan of a chimpanzee is 40–50 years in the wild and 50-60 years in captivity. The 1 January will be given as the birthday to any individual whose exact birthdate isn't known.

Joao, aged, is the oldest chimpanzee ever; oldest male chimpanzee ever; and current oldest living chimpanzee. The oldest female chimpanzee ever was Little Mama, who reached to the final age of 80 years, 317 days. The oldest living female chimpanzee is Susie, aged .

This list is currently under construction, so information may be missing or outdated.

RankNameSexBirth dateDeath dateAge Place of death or residence
1Joao[1] M1 January 1943LivingSouth Africa, Chimp Eden
2Little Mama[2] [3] F1 January 193714 November 2017United States, Lion Country Safari
3Susie [4] [5] F1 January 1954LivingUnited States, Sunset Zoo
4Jhonny[6] M1 January 195015 January 2019Japan, Kobe Oji Zoo
5GregoireMc. 194217 December 2008c. 66 yearsRepublic of the Congo, Tchimpounga Sanctuary
6Auntie Rose[7] F??c. 63 years? (oldest wild chimpanzee)[8]
7Garbo/Grandma[9] F10 December 1953c. 15 November 201561 years, c. 340 daysUnited States, Chimp Haven
8Jimmie[10] F1960Living64 yearsNetherlands, Royal Burgers' Zoo
9Fifi[11] [12] Fc. May 194719 July 2007c. 60 years, 2 monthsAustralia, Taronga Zoo
10Coco[13] Fc. 19522012c. 60 yearsUnited States, Oregon Zoo
11Blossom[14] F1950s11 November 2017"in her 60s"United Kingdom, Scotland, Blair Drummond Safari Park
12Sarah Anne[15] Fc. August 1959July 201959 years, 11 monthsUnited States, Chimp Haven

Gorillas


†This list includes all known individuals to have reached the age of 50 years or more. The average lifespan of a gorilla is 35–40 years. The 1 January has been given as the birthday to any individual whose exact birthdate isn't known.

Fatou, aged, is the oldest gorilla ever; oldest female gorilla ever; oldest living gorilla overall and oldest living female gorilla. The oldest male gorilla ever was Ozoum, who reached to the final age of 61 years, 24 days. The oldest living male gorilla is Guhonda, aged .

Female gorillas, on average, live longer than their male counterparts.

RankNameSexdata-sort-type="date" Birth datedata-sort-type="date" Death dateAgePlace of death
or residence
1Fatou[16] F1 January 1957LivingGermany, Berlin Zoo
2Helen[17] F1 January 1958 14 October 2022United States, Louisville Zoo
3TrudyF1 January 195624 July 2019United States, Little Rock Zoo
4MimiF1 January 1963LivingGermany, Zoologisch-botanischer Garten Wilhelma
5Vila[18] F1 January 195727 January 2018United States, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
6Ozoum[19] M1 January 196125 January 2022United States, Zoo Atlanta
7Delilah[20] [21] F1 January 196324 January 202461 years, 23 daysNorthern Ireland, Belfast Zoo
8Lamydoc[22] M1 January 196222 February 2022United States, Gladys Porter Zoo
9Colo[23] F22 December 1956 17 January 2017United States, Columbus Zoo
10Choomba[24] F1 January 196313 January 2022United States, Zoo Atlanta
11Shamba[25] F1 January 195927 October 2017United States, Zoo Atlanta
12Goma [26] F23 September 19597 June 2018[27] Switzerland, Basel Zoo
13BabydollF1 January 196128 November 2018United Kingdom, Howletts Wild Animal Park
14Nico[28] M1 January 19627 January 2018United Kingdom, Longleat Safari Park
15BafiaF1 January 19675 January 2023United Kingdom, Chessington Zoo
16Kim[29] [30] F1 January 1969LivingSpain, Fuengirola Zoo
17Jenny[31] F1 January 19534 September 2008United States, Dallas Zoo
18Fritz[32] M1 January 196320 August 2018Germany, Nuremberg Zoo
19Massa[33] M1 January 193030 December 1984United States, Philadelphia Zoo
20Oki[34] F1 January 195630 December 2010Japan, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
21FemelleF1 January 196212 December 2016United States,Milwaukee County Zoo
-22VirungaF1 January 1970LivingFrance, La Vallée des Singes
23Mouila[35] F1 January 196022 April 2014United Kingdom, Howletts Wild Animal Park
24Ju Ju[36] F1 January 196223 January 2016United Kingdom, Howletts Wild Animal Park
25BabsiF1 January 1971LivingRussia, Moscow Zoo
Guhonda[37] M1 January 1971LivingRwanda, Volcanoes National Park
-27Ramses IM12 April 1971LivingUnited States, Fort Worth Zoo
28MumbahM1 January 196518 May 2018
29Mushie[38] F1 January 196923 April 2022United Kingdom, Howletts Wild Animal Park
30NeneF1 January 1972LivingJapan, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
KambaF1 January 1972LivingCzech Republic, Prague Zoo
DalilaF1 January 1972LivingNetherlands, GaiaZOO
SidonieF1 January 1972LivingUnited Kingdom,Howletts Wild Animal Park
UndiF1 January 1972LivingGermany, Zoologisch-botanischer Garten Wilhelma
35CharlesM1 January 197229 October 2024Canada, Toronto Zoo
36QuartaF17 July 196818 March 2021Switzerland,Basel Zoo
37Timmy[39] M1 January 19592 August 2011United States, Louisville Zoo
38WinstonM1 January 197213 July 2024United States, San Diego Zoo
39JulchenF1 January 196427 June 2016Germany, Frankfurt Zoo
40KingM1 January 196913 April 2021United States, Monkey Jungle
41Katanga[40] F1 January 196327 February 2015United States, Gladys Porter Zoo
42Josephine F1 January 196518 January 2017United States, Miami Zoo
43Pieko[41] F1 January 19702 December 2021Japan, Ueno Zoo
44Pete[42] M1 January 19675 November 2018United States, Woodland Park Zoo
45NilleF1 January 196414 October 2015Denmark, Givskud Zoo
46BiddyF1 January 1973LivingUnited Kingdom, Twycross Zoo
KathiF1 January 1973LivingGermany, Hanover Zoo
AmaniF1 January 1973LivingUnited States,Fort Worth Zoo
49Yuska[43] F1 January 197125 August 2022Australia, Melbourne Zoo
50Matze[44] M1 January 195713 August 2008Germany, Frankfurt Zoo
51KoraF1 January 19558 July 2006France, Touroparc Zoo
52GoriM20 April 1973LivingJapan,Japan Monkey Centre
53MacM1 January 195319 May 2004United States, Houston Zoo
54AssumboM15 July 1973Living
55KishinaF7 August 197212 September 2023United States, Busch Gardens Tampa
56Pongi[45] F1 January 19631 February 2014United States, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
57ZakulaF1 January 196814 December 2018United States, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
58DembaF10 July 197021 May 2021United States, Louisville Zoo
59MinthaF1 January 1974LivingNetherlands, Apenheul Primate Park
60GorgeousF1 January 19499 October 1999United States, Hogle Zoo
61GigiF1 January 195917 September 2009Germany, Berlin Zoo
62IvanM1 January 196221 August 2012United States, Zoo Atlanta
63RuhondezaM1 January 196227 June 2012Uganda, Kyumbugushu village
64AmandaF1 January 197027 May 2020United States, Woodland Park Zoo
65FredrikaF5 June 1974LivingUnited States,Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
66Schorsch[46] F3 March 197222 June 2022Portugal, Porto Zoo
67RamarM1 January 196812 April 2018United States, Brookfield Zoo
68ToniM8 August 1974LivingUkraine, Kyiv Zoo
69SamanthaF31 January 197029 March 2020United States, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
70KathrynF1 January 196319 February 2013United States, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Humans

See main article: article and Oldest people.

Orangutans


†This list includes all known individuals to have reached the age of 50 years or more. The average lifespan of an orangutan is 30–40 years. The 1 January will be given as the birthday to any individual whose exact birthdate isn't known.

The oldest female orangutan ever (and oldest orangutan overall) was Puan, who reached to the final age of . The oldest male orangutan ever was Guas, who reached to the final age of .

The oldest living female (and overall) orangutan is Bella, aged . The oldest living male orangutan is Mushon, aged .

Female orangutans, on average, live longer than their male counterparts.

RankNameSexdata-sort-type="date" Birth datedata-sort-type="date" Death dateAgePlace of death
or residence
1Puan[47] F1 January 195317 June 2018Australia, Perth Zoo
2BellaF1 January 1961LivingGermany, Tierpark Hagenbeck
3GypsyF1 January 195527 September 2017Japan, Tama Zoological Park
4KasihF19 March 1962LivingGermany, ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen
5InjiF1 December 19599 January 2021United States, Oregon Zoo
6MotaF1 January 1964LivingAustria, Vienna Zoo
7DjambiF1 January 19583 September 2017Germany, Frankfurt Zoo
8JurryF6 May 1965LivingJapan, Tama Zoological Park
9MollyF1 January 195230 April 2011Japan, Tama Zoological Park
10ElsiF1 January 195823 January 2017Germany, ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen
11MarthaF1 January 196517 January 2024United Kingdom, Chester Zoo
12GuasM1 January 19199 February 1977United States, Philadelphia Zoo
13PuppeF1 January 1967LivingCanada, Toronto Zoo
14CharlyM1 January 195715 October 2014Germany, Frankfurt Zoo
15TiaF1 January 19573 June 2014United States, Sedgwick County Zoo
16GuarinaF1 January 191916 January 1976United States, Philadelphia Zoo
17GingerF1 January 195518 October 2011United States, Sacramento Zoo
18NonjaF1 January 195229 December 2007Austria, Vienna Zoo
19EloiseF10 November 1968LivingUnited States, Los Angeles Zoo
20MushonM23 December 1968LivingIsrael, Ramat Gan Safari
21NenetteF1 January 1969LivingFrance, Paris Zoo
QueM1 January 1969LivingJapan, Tama Zoological Park
23ManisF28 March 1969LivingFrance, Zoo de La Boissière-du-Doré
24MerahF13 May 1969LivingUnited States, St. Louis Zoo
25DjakaF9 August 1969LivingGermany, Dresden Zoo
26FerdinandM5 October 1969LivingCzech Republic, Ústí nad Labem Zoo
27MaggieF18 July 196120 May 2016United States, Brookfield Zoo
28NeoF5 March 1970LivingJapan, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
29MukaF13 April 1970LivingJapan, Hamamatsu Municipal Zoo
30JaneyF1 January 19628 June 2016United States, San Diego Zoo
31PetronillaF21 May 1970LivingItaly, Giardino Zoologico
32PuteriF12 June 1970LivingAustralia, Perth Zoo
33SariF26 July 1970LivingBelgium, Pairi Daiza
34MimiM1 January 196914 December 2022Japan, Fukuoka Zoo
35Suma IIF1 January 195321 September 2006Germany, Osnabrück Zoo
36RadjaM1 January 196331 August 2016Netherlands, Apenheul Primate Park
37PopiF23 April 1971LivingUnited States, Center for Great Apes
38BuschiM21 December 1971LivingGermany, Osnabrück Zoo
39BijiF18 October 197011 August 2023United States, Zoo Atlanta
40CheliF22 January 1972LivingUnited States, Sacramento Zoo
41TobaF2 July 196711 January 2020United States, Oklahoma City Zoo
42DuchessF1 January 196024 June 2012United States, Phoenix Zoo
43CheyenneF13 May 1972LivingUnited States, Houston Zoo
44SchubbiM28 May 1972LivingGermany, ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen
45SusieF1 January 196416 April 2016United States, Gladys Porter Zoo
46BuschiM1 January 195921 January 2011Germany, Wilhelma
47SextaF21 September 1972LivingGermany, ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen
48ChintaF19 February 196818 February 2020United States, Woodland Park Zoo
49JuliaF1 January 19416 November 1992Netherlands, Diergaarde Blijdorp
50ChappyF26 February 1973LivingJapan, Tama Zoological Park
51LucyF2 March 1973LivingUnited States, National Zoological Park
52SiamM1 January 196013 April 2011Germany, Duisburg Zoo
53KarlM1 January 196120 March 2012Netherlands, Apenheul Primate Park
54SandraF1 November 195617 December 2007United States, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
55MajorM1 January 196226 September 2012France, Zoo de La Boissière-du-Doré
56GinaF1 January 196414 August 2014Jersey, Jersey Zoo
57TelokM1 January 196312 August 2013Germany, Krefeld Zoo
58DindingM1 January 19585 July 2008Canada, Toronto Zoo
59RajangM14 June 196812 December 2018United Kingdom, Colchester Zoo
60TondelayoF1 January 195920 March 2009United States, ZooWorld
61DumplinF21 July 1974LivingUnited States, Columbus Zoo
62BabuF1 January 195215 February 2002Germany, Berlin Zoo
63BaranM1 January 196212 February 2012Japan, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joao - Group 2 The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa. 2021-08-19. www.chimpeden.com. 2021-08-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819151534/https://www.chimpeden.com/group-2-joao.html. live.
  2. Web site: Meet one of the oldest chimpanzees in captivity - CNN.com. Kim Segal. CNN. 21 April 2012. 3 August 2017. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085637/http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/21/us/oldest-chimpanzee-in-captivity/index.html. live.
  3. Web site: Oldest Living Chimpanzee & A Special GiraffeCelebrate Birthdays this Valentine's Day - Lion Country Safari. www.lioncountrysafari.com. 2017-01-31. 2016-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20161021215936/http://www.lioncountrysafari.com/oldest-living-chimpanzee-a-special-giraffe-celebrate-birthdays-this-valentines-day/. live.
  4. Web site: Sunset Zoo's Susie the Chimpanzee Celebrating 60 years. 2019-06-19. 2015-06-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20150601212638/http://www.littleapplepost.com/2014/09/03/sunset-zoos-susie-the-chimpanzee-celebrating-60-years/. live.
  5. Web site: Happy 65th Birthday Susie. Facebook. 2020-06-03. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607090649/https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1696842263702252&id=246123575440802. live.
  6. Havercamp . Kristin . 2019 . Longevity and mortality of captive chimpanzees in Japan from 1921 to 2018 . Primates . 60 . 6 . 525–535 . en . 10.1007/s10329-019-00755-8. 31583490 .
  7. Web site: Menopause sets humans apart from chimps. 2017-01-31. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803053605/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13052-menopause-sets-humans-apart-from-chimps/. live.
  8. Web site: How long do chimpanzees live? «. www.chimpsanctuarynw.org. 8 March 2013 . 2017-01-31. 2016-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20161228204929/http://www.chimpsanctuarynw.org/blog/2013/03/how-long-do-chimpanzees-live/. live.
  9. Web site: Chimp Haven's oldest chimpanzee dies at age 61. Vickie. Welborn. 16 November 2015 . 2017-01-31. 2015-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20151220232421/http://www.ktbs.com/story/30529795/chimp-havens-oldest-chimpanzee-dies-at-age-61. live.
  10. 26 February 2021 . Wie is het Oudste Dier in Burgers' Zoo? De Vraag Van Vandaag . . . 21 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029191459/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXw8DKxI42o . 29 October 2021 . live.
  11. Web site: Zoo mourns death of beloved chimpanzee - National - brisbanetimes.com.au. www.brisbanetimes.com.au. 19 July 2007. 16 February 2017. 11 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311002322/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/07/19/1184559955353.html. live.
  12. Web site: Chimpanzee matriarch dies in Sydney zoo. 21 July 2007. LA Times. 12 December 2019. 17 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217062757/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jul/21/science/sci-briefs21.2. live.
  13. Web site: Zoo mourns loss of oldest resident, Coco the chimpanzee. 2017-01-31. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803051855/http://www.oregonzoo.org/node/2123/media. live.
  14. Web site: Blossom the Chimpanzee | Blair Drummond Safari Park. www.blairdrummond.com. 2019-01-09. 2019-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190109205344/https://www.blairdrummond.com/news/blossom-chimpanzee. live.
  15. Web site: One of Chimp Haven's first two chimps has died. Vickie. Welborn. 6 December 2016 . 2017-02-14. 2017-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215121726/http://www.ktbs.com/story/33953312/one-of-chimp-havens-first-two-chimps-has-died. live.
  16. Web site: Berlinerin Fatou ist nun ältester Gorilla der Welt. www.rbb-online.de. 2017-01-23. 2017-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202012146/http://www.rbb-online.de/panorama/beitrag/2017/01/aeltester-gorilla-berlin-fatou.html. live.
  17. Web site: Meet the Gorillas. July 29, 2014. Louisville Zoo. January 9, 2019. January 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190109204914/https://louisvillezoo.org/gorilla-forest/meet-the-gorillas/. live.
  18. News: 2018-01-27. Vila, one of world's oldest gorillas, dies in captivity at 60. en-GB. BBC News. 2022-02-02.
  19. News: Shivaram. Deepa. 2022-01-26. Ozzie, the world's oldest male gorilla, dies at 61. en. NPR. 2022-02-02.
  20. 1261249765901324288 . BelfastZoo . Today is our eldest gorilla's birthday! Happy 57th birthday to Delilah! Delilah is one of the eldest gorillas in captivity. Born in 1963, Delilah shot to fame in the 1970s when she appeared with Johnny Morris on the TV show, Animal Magic, which was filmed at Bristol Zoo. https://t.co/XkPCfV8xQa . Belfast Zoo . Belfast Zoo . 15 May 2020 . 21 February 2022 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20200515113411/https://twitter.com/BelfastZoo/status/1261249765901324288 . 15 May 2020 . live.
  21. News: 24 January 2024 . Belfast Zoo keepers mourn passing of 'character' gorilla Delilah . 2 May 2024 . itv News.
  22. Web site: 0385 Lamydoc. 2022-02-06. www.dewarwildlife.org.
  23. News: Thousands mourn the death of Colo, the world's oldest zoo gorilla. en-US. Washington Post. 2022-02-02. 0190-8286.
  24. Web site: Gilbert. Asha C.. Choomba, one of the world's oldest living gorillas, euthanized at 59-years-old. 2022-02-02. USA Today. en-US.
  25. Web site: 2017-10-27. Zoo Atlanta's oldest gorilla, Shamba, has died at 58. 2022-02-02. Reporter Newspapers & Atlanta Intown. en-US.
  26. Web site: Famous female gorilla Goma turns 55. Zoo. Basel. www.zoobasel.ch.
  27. Web site: Basler Zoo - Der Zolli trauert um Goma: Basels berühmteste Gorilladame ist gestorben | bz Basel. bz - Zeitung für die Region Basel. 8 June 2018 .
  28. Web site: 9 January 2018 . Nico the Gorilla . 2022-02-07 . Longleat.
  29. Global Times . Global Times . globaltimesnews . 1007053777852096512 . 13 June 2018 . Echo, a 9-year-old blackback coast gorilla and Kim, a 49-year-old female coast gorilla, arrived from the Sweden as part of the European Endangered Species Programs to form a breeding group in Fuengirola, Spain on June 12. (VCG/Jon Nazca) https://t.co/H50rkbtpqV . en . 21 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200307023338/https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1007053777852096512 . 7 March 2020 . live.
  30. Web site: 0560 - KIM. 2022-02-07. www.dewarwildlife.org.
  31. Web site: Jenny the Gorilla. 2022-02-07. Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology. en-US.
  32. Web site: Auflistung aller Gorillas in Deutschland - Gorillas in Zoos . 2017-11-03 . 2017-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031441/https://www.gorillas-in-zoos.de/auflistung-aller-gorillas-in-deutschland/ . live .
  33. News: Upi. 1985-01-01. 54-Year-Old Gorilla, Oldest in Captivity, Dies in Philadelphia. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-07. 0362-4331.
  34. Web site: GAIN [Great Ape Information Network]]. 2022-02-07. shigen.nig.ac.jp.
  35. News: Our oldest gorilla Mouila dies at 54. Kentish Gazette Canterbury and District . Damian Aspinall . 24 April 2014 . 2022-02-07. PressReader.
  36. Web site: Log into Facebook. 2022-02-07. Facebook. en.
  37. Web site: Finding Guhonda. 2022-02-07. Your African Safari.
  38. Web site: 0386 - Mushie. 2022-02-07. www.dewarwildlife.org.
  39. Web site: 2011-08-03. Timmy the Gorilla Dies at 52. 2022-02-07. WEKU. en.
  40. Web site: 2015-02-27. Gladys Porter Zoo gorilla, Katanga, passes away. 2022-02-07. KVEO-TV. en-US.
  41. Web site: 登录 Facebook. 2022-02-07. Facebook. zh-Hans.
  42. Web site: 2018-11-06. Pete, a great-great grandfather and Woodland Park Zoo's oldest gorilla, dies at 50. 2022-02-07. FOX13 News Seattle Washington KCPQ. en-US.
  43. Web site: 0484 - Yuska. 2022-02-07. www.dewarwildlife.org.
  44. Web site: 0337 - Matze . 2022-06-18 . www.dewarwildlife.org.
  45. Web site: Zoo Family Mourns Loss of Gorilla Pongi. 2022-02-08. www.columbuszoo.org. en.
  46. Web site: 2022-03-05 . Gorilla Schorsch turns 50 in Loro Parque . 2022-04-03 . Tenerife Weekly News . en-GB.
  47. http://www.orangutanssp.org/uploads/2/4/9/9/24992309/2015_orangutan_isb.pdf

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