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Barcelona Zoo says goodbye to Susi, Europe’s longest-lived elephant
Barcelona Zoo closes its doors after Susi’s death. The elephant lived for more than 55 years, breaking records. Her story moves carers and visitors. Discover her life and legacy. The zoo team has activated the special protocol.
Zoo de Barcelona closes its doors after Susi's death. The elephant lived for more than 55 years, surpassing records. Her story moves carers and visitors. Discover what her life and legacy were like. The zoo team activates the special protocol.
Zoo de Barcelona closed this Friday as a sign of mourning after the death of Susi, the oldest African elephant at the facility. Susi, who arrived at the zoo in 2002, died of natural causes at an estimated age of more than 55, far exceeding her species' usual life expectancy under human care, which is around 39 years.
Considered one of Europe's longest-lived African elephants, Susi was known for her strong and affable character, as well as the close bond she maintained with her carers. The zoo recalled her story with emotion: Susi was captured in the wild and, after spending time in a circus, arrived at Safari Park Vergel before settling permanently in Barcelona.
The zoo's technical team, together with the Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Service of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, has launched the protocol provided for these cases. All information will be shared with the conservation programme of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), of which Zoo de Barcelona is a member.
The zoo's director, Antoni Alarcon, stressed the carers' effort and dedication throughout all these years. The centre claims to be a global benchmark in geriatric care for elephants, working with the Centre d’Educació en Benestar d’Animals de Zoològic of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (AWEC). Susi shared her life at the zoo with Yoyo, another historic elephant who died in December 2024.