Pipito, one of the oldest chimpanzees in Cuba, turns 56 years old.

The workers of the Sancti Spíritus Zoo will celebrate an extraordinary event next December: Pipito, one of the oldest chimpanzees in Cuba, will turn 56 years old.

The official Radio Sancti Spiritus boasted on Facebook that the province is home to one of the country's oldest chimpanzees living in captivity. However, it has emerged that the primate's life has been in danger on several occasions due to the inaction of the zoo's administration.

Taimí Mencía Venegas, the institution's director, presented the long-lived chimpanzee as an "achievement of the zoo," explaining that it is evidence of "the effort made by the animal welfare collective" of the institution, which was harshly criticized last February for the precarious state in which some animals were found.

According to the directive, chimpanzees in captivity normally live between 32 and 40 years, so she described it as "extraordinary" that Pipito will turn 56 years old next December.

However, Mencía admitted that they did not expect the animal to reach this age. In the past, the inadequate maintenance of the trees surrounding the cage prevented the sun from reaching the primate, a situation that put Pipito's health at risk due to the zoo administration's inaction.

The director pointed out that the chimpanzee frequently suffered from pneumonia, a disease that in primates, just like in humans, can be fatal.

In this sense, he highlighted the work of some doctors who had to assist at the zoo in caring for the chimpanzee, suggesting that the institution has lacked qualified personnel or necessary medications to care for Pipito's life.

Despite these past problems, the primate has proven to be very intelligent. One of his caregivers stated that, at times, he snatches the broom to clean his enclosure himself, a fact that never ceases to be surprising, although the zoo workers are already aware of his intelligence.

"He sweeps on two legs and does it just like we do, he knows very well where the food waste he consumes is located," he assured.

The caregiver pointed out that Pipito is cared for as if he were a small child: "He is a baby that we must feed on time, we give him water with honey, all as part of a balanced diet, with fruits and vegetables."

"He eats once a day, but sometimes in the evenings, we spoil him with banana and mango, which is what he likes the most," he noted.

The chimpanzee currently maintains a good friendship with a leopard that recently arrived at the Sancti Spíritus zoo.

A report from Escambray newspaper indicated that the cub was transferred from the 26 Zoo in Havana, and currently "enjoys a spacious cage," where it is supervised by specialists who observe its behavior and development.

Both animals join the birth of a lion as one of the main novelties and attractions of the institution. Jorgito, who was born last May, is growing strong and healthy, and due to the extraordinary nature of his birth, he is closely followed by the zoo's workers.