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The Zoo de Barcelona seeks photos and videos of Copito de Nieve for a documentary
Barcelona is once again turning its attention to one of its most shared memories. The Zoo is preparing a documentary about Copito de Nieve, the albino gorilla who for decades was much more than an attraction: he became a symbol of the city and an image etched in the memory of several generations.
The project aims to reconstruct that history using material from the public. That’s why the documentary team is asking for photos, videos, and memories from people who saw him at the Zoo, photographed him as children, or have family pictures from those visits that left a mark on so many people in Barcelona.
There’s a clear emotional aspect to this call. Copito de Nieve was part of the childhood of thousands of locals, school trips, and family weekend plans. Many of those images are now in albums, old tapes, or home archives that can help tell the story of the relationship between the animal and the city.
The intention is to premiere the documentary in November, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of his arrival at the Zoo de Barcelona. The date makes the project more than just an audiovisual piece: it will also be a way to reflect on how Barcelona’s view of its zoo, its animals, and its own urban memory has changed.
Copito de Nieve arrived in the city in 1966 from Guinea Ecuatorial and soon attracted extraordinary international attention because of his albinism. His uniqueness made him one of the most famous animals in the world, but in Barcelona his presence had a more familiar, everyday dimension.
For years, visiting the Zoo meant that many families would also stop by his enclosure. His image appeared in memories, postcards, photographs, reports, and family conversations, becoming a kind of common figure for those who grew up in the city.
The documentary will allow this memory to be recovered through different voices: not just the official history of the Zoo, but also those who watched him from outside the fence, remember him fondly, or want to explain what it meant to see him at a time when Barcelona was still very different.
The initiative comes at a time when zoos are also being seen in a new light. Recovering the story of Copito de Nieve means remembering a beloved icon, but also opening up a conversation about how attitudes, conservation, and relationships with animals have changed. That mix of nostalgia and reflection is a big part of the documentary’s value.