Liesel

Liesel (born 15th April 1977) is a Western Lowland Gorilla currently residing at Budapest Zoo, Budapest, Hungary. She is the oldest gorilla in Budapest as well as the oldest gorilla in Hungary. She may also be the 4th oldest gorilla in Europe. She was born at Zoo Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany on the 15th April 1977 and was transferred to Budapest Zoo on the 20th April 1989 and has lived there since. In January 2009, Liesel underwent an operation to remove a malignant tumour on her right ovary, which may have endangered her life. She was kept under observation and separate from her fellow gorillas for a week after the surgery. The surgery which Liesel received was the first of its kind to be undertaken in Hungary. More exams were scheduled after her operation to determine why she had not given birth since 2000. She has three children, Dango (born 1992), Gorka (born 1996) and Ebobo (born 2000) as well as several other relatives, including Dorle, Sabine, Roseli, Lia, Derrick, Inge, Claus, Horst, Richard, Akili, Changa, Damisi, Fossey, Ituri, Kipenzi, Kabuli and Nasibu, all of whom are her half siblings.

Liesel celebrated her 40th birthday on the 15th April 2017 at the Budapest Zoo with a fruitcake. Liesel continues to be in good health as of February 2020, as she interacted with juvenile gorilla, Indigo, who played with her and climbed onto her. Liesel was visited by Jane Goodall at Budapest Zoo.

Liesel may the 4th oldest living gorilla in Europe, behind Fatou, Old Bob and Mushie.