Today October 27 would have been Zakayo’s 58^th birthday.

Eric Ntalumbwa, public relations officer at Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) says that Zakayo served well as a primates’ ambassador at the zoo in Entebbe.

This chimpanzee breathed his last in April 2018.

Ntalumbwa adds that Zakayo was rescued on June 10, 1964 from Semiliki National park in Bundibugyo (South-western Uganda). It was estimated to be 12 months then.

It would later stay under the care of a wildlife trafficker who treated it as his pet for 13 years.

After, he handed zakayo over to Entebbe zoo in 1976 where he spent the rest of his life.

Frank Ruhinirwa, education officer at UWEC says that Zakayo’s name has stayed synonymous with chimpanzees at the zoo and Uganda at large.

Meanwhile, Budongo Island became Zakayo’s home with other rescued chimpanzees and here, Zakayo led the troop until 2011 when old age started catching up with him.

“As an alpha male, he laid a good foundation as a leader for the chimps on the Island,’ Ntalumbwa says.

Zakayo's monument at the zoo

He adds that in the quest to choose who should step in as the new alpha male for the chimps, Zakayo was always a peacemaker who never interrupted the natural transfer of power. There were three aspirants; Matooke, Aluma and Onapa.

Matooke succeded Zakayo but later lost his seat to Aluma who is the current Alpha male chimpanzee.

Zakyo's burial ceremony 

“Zakayo lived a successful life as a father with his two wives; Ruth and Amina. He left behind a son named Shaka,” Ntalumbwa says.

Fast facts about chimpanzees

*Chimpanzees are man’s closet relatives sharing more than 98% our genetic blue print.

*They are social animals that live in communities, have leadership, hierarchies, and parenting skills.

*Chimpanzees just like humans, can make and use tools.

*They can live for 45 years in the wild and 60 years under captivity.

*Chimpanzees are among the endangered species in the world and man is the biggest threat through destruction of their habitats, pet trade and bush meat.