Delhi zoo gears up for birthday bash as chimpanzee Rita turns 58 on Friday

Officials at the Delhi zoo said that a television set will be placed outside the enclosure of chimpanzee Rita and as a birthday treat she will get to watch a movie.

Months after celebrating the tenth birthday of a white tiger, Delhi Zoo is all set to celebrate the birthday of chimpanzee Rita, who is the oldest member of the zoo and turns 58 on Friday.

Officials from the zoo said that a television set will be placed outside her enclosure and as a birthday treat she will get to watch a movie. (HT FILE)

The birthday bash will be held on Thursday as the zoo remains closed on Friday.

Rita will celebrate her birthday with a cake and a special diet of dry fruits and honey. Officials from the zoo said that a television set will be placed outside her enclosure and as a birthday treat she will get to watch a movie.

The zoo is also inviting school children to celebrate Rita’s birthday. The director of the zoo will cut a cake along with the school children.

In July when the zoo had first celebrated the birthday of Vijay, a white tiger, officials had said they will be organizing such birthday parties for other animals as well.

During Vijay’s birthday school students took part in a walk – Walk for Vijay — shouting slogans ‘One step towards Vijay’. A cardboard cut-out of the tiger, with a garland around his neck, was kept in front of the enclosure where children gathered to sing and cut the cake.

Though such programmes to engage visitors are held in zoos across the world, Lucknow zoo was the first to start the trend in India.