Farewell Zakayo: Uganda's oldest male chimpanzee dies aged 54

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02:56

Uganda's oldest male chimpanzee has died at the age of 54. Popularly known as Zakayo, he's lived in captivity for 42 years at the country's Wildlife Conservation Education Centre at Entebbe. CGTN's Michael Baleke has that report.

Is it a somber mood here as Chimps and animal lovers gather to remember Zakayo? The 54-year-old male is responsible for bringing up the chimpanzee family at this facility.

DIANA LWASSA TOURIST "We came here to visit the Centre, and the sad news we got at the gate as we came is that Zakayo had died. From 1981 I started coming to the zoo, that is what I remember. But I think I came earlier than that. That is how far I have known Zakayo."

Officials at the Wildlife Conservation Education Centre are carrying out more tests on the carcass to determine the cause of death.

But preliminary findings suggest that Zakayo succumbed to chronic gastroenteritis.

JAMES MUSINGUZI UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE "Due to his old age, he was very prone to chronic infections. He reached a time when he refused medication, making it difficult to treat him."

On June 10, 1964, Zakayo was found abandoned in the Semliki National Park in the Western Uganda District of Bundibugyo when he was one year old.

He was hand raised by an expatriate who later surrendered him to the Wildlife Conservation Education Centre on June 19, 1976, after becoming aggressive and difficult to manage.

MICHAEL BALEKE KAMPALA, UGANDA "Zakayo has acted as the flagship species for the chimpanzees here and in the wild. His name is also synonymous with other animals in captivity."

There is an estimated 10,000 chimpanzees on the African continent, with half of that number living in Uganda. And wildlife authorities here say, Zakayo, the once dominant male chimp has been an ambassador for conservation.

JAMES MUSINGUZI UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE "Through Zakayo, funds have been raised to look after other animals at the Wildlife Education Centre. He has largely contributed to the Centre's sustainability and increase in visitor numbers."

Tourist numbers at this Centre have grown from 124,000 in 1997 to over 300,000 in 2017. A key attribute to the legendary Zakayo, who will always be remembered as the grand father of chimpanzees in Uganda. Michael Baleke, CGTN Kampala, Uganda.