Zakayo the oldest chimpanzee at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) will be celebrating its 44th birthday on Friday 15th August 2008.

A prolific birthday party not thrown in the recent past is set to be hosted at UWEC for the well wishers.

According to a statement from UWEC, Zakayo who is also regarded as a favorite to visitors at the education center is the Alpha male and one of the flagship animals at the centre thus, the birthday party will be accompanied with a number of activities.

A statement further stated that Zakayo is as well a historical member of the centre whom with no doubt is entitled to a birth day celebration with the general public. In the event to spread the conservation message to the public, the UWEC authorities have organized similar occasions in the past that were predominantly involved by school children who assembled to witness the birthday celebrations, participate in question – answer sessions as well as quiz competitions.

Zakayo is said to have sired eight off springs at the centre and it is very protective towards the younger ones. In the mornings, he is always the last to go out and also the last to get inside in the evening expressing its role as the alpha male.

The chimp which is assumed to be very fatherly was found in June 1972 at Semliki in Bundibugyo district, hand raised and later surrendered to UWEC formerly the Entebbe Zoo on 10th June, 1976 which it has had a successful spell to date.

UWEC also thanked the general public for the support they have shown to the centre and appealed for a continued support for the public.

The centre has acted as home to most wildlife in Uganda and provides an appropriate view of viewing a diversity of Uganda's game in their different habitats. For people who do not wish to visit national parks like; lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Semliki, UWEC provides a great substitute for it has animals such as the buffalo, rhino, hyena, a diversity of antelopes, shoe bill, chimpanzee and monkeys.