Europe's oldest chimp, with 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, turns 58 at zoo

Europe’s oldest chimp who has 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren has celebrated turning 58 with a special meal of her favourite tasty treats.

Coco the chimp arrived at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire as a four-year-old in 1969 to become part of an important breeding programme.

Since then, she has given birth to six children and now has 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

One of 14 chimps living at the zoo and 42 years older than the youngest chimp, 16-year-old Tuli, staff say Coco is adored by visitors and staff at the zoo.

To celebrate her special birthday, her keepers plated up the chimp some of her favourite tasty treats.

Chimpanzees are currently endangered in the wild due to hunting for the illegal bushmeat and pet trade.

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Amanda Addison, animal team managers of great apes at Twycross, said she is "proud" of Coco for helping to maintain the species' population.

She said: "Everybody at the zoo absolutely adores Coco, and we are extremely proud of her and everything she has done for her species."

She added: "Since her arrival in 1969, Coco has been an important ambassador for her species - with six children, 19 grandchildren and three great grandchildren to-date.

"We’ll be celebrating Coco’s 58th birthday throughout the weekend and providing her with some of her favourite tasty treats to enjoy with the rest of the chimpanzee troop to mark the occasion.”