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Pic: IanTurner/Longleat/BNPS

Like most 56 year old's, Nico, Longleat Safari Park's oldest resident, looked like he hoped staff had forgotten his birthday this week.

The ageing Western Lowland silverback is the oldest Gorilla in Europe, and the second oldest in the world.

The grumpy ape had a cursory glance at his birthday card which had his face on it with a tongue in cheek caption to 'try and contain your excitement' but then unceremoniously discarded it.

However, the grumpy gorilla did crack a smile as he devoured his birthday cake which was made out of bananas and courgettes with some carrot candles.