The Zoo de Barcelona says goodbye to Susi, the longest-lived elephant in Europe

The Zoo de Barcelona has closed its doors following the death of Susi. The elephant lived for more than 55 years, breaking records. Her story moves keepers and visitors. Discover what her life and legacy were like. The zoo team has activated the special protocol.

The Zoo de Barcelona closed this Friday as a sign of mourning after the death of Susi, the oldest African elephant in its enclosure. Susi, who arrived at the zoo in 2002, died of natural causes at an estimated age of over 55, far exceeding the usual life expectancy for her species under human care, which is around 39 years.

Considered one of the longest-lived African elephants in Europe, Susi was known for her strong yet gentle character, as well as the close bond she had with her keepers. The zoo has recalled her story with emotion: Susi was captured in the wild and, after spending time in a circus, arrived at Safari Park Vergel before finally settling in Barcelona.

The technical team at the zoo, together with the Servicio de Diagnóstico de Patología Veterinaria at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, has activated the protocol established for these cases. All information will be shared with the conservation programme of the Asociación Europea de Zoos y Acuarios (EAZA), of which the Zoo de Barcelona is a member.

The director of the zoo, Antoni Alarcon, has highlighted the effort and dedication of the keepers over all these years. The centre is recognised as a world reference in geriatric elephant care, collaborating with the Centre d’Educació en Benestar d’Animals de Zoològic at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (AWEC). Susi shared her life at the zoo with Yoyo, another historic elephant who died in December 2024.