Oldest white rhino in Europe dies at Barcelona Zoo

Barcelona Zoo has lost one of its most beloved inhabitants, Pedro the rhinoceros, one of the oldest white rhinos to have lived, according to existing records. 

Pedro's health had deteriorated due to his advanced age in the past few days. Despite the care provided by his team of caregivers and vets, Pedro died on Monday morning, Barcelona Zoo explained in a statement. 

His exact age was not known, but was estimated to be between 53 and 54 years old, making him the oldest rhinoceros in Europe – there are 339 rhinos housed by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums – and one of the 4 oldest of nearly 800 worldwide, according to the zoo. 

Pedro arrived at Barcelona Zoo on December 2, 2003.

In 1972 he had been imported from South Africa and transferred to Spain at a time in which the movement of animals was not as regulated by international legislation as is the case today. 

Barcelona Zoo director, Antoni Alarcon said: "An animal much loved by all of us has died. Pedro represents one of the most significant purposes of Barcelona Zoo today, to be a refuge and guarantor of the well-being of animals that require special protection, either because they are a threatened species in their natural habitat or because they have special needs as a result of their own history." 

Pedro was a southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum), a subspecies classified as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

The southern white rhino, like most other rhino species, has been in serious danger of extinction due to them being hunted and poached for their horns. However, the southern white rhino has made some recovery in recent years thanks to the strict protection they have been granted. Previously, they lived in South Africa, but have recently been reintroduced to other areas such as Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

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