North Carolina Zoo Mourns Death of Oldest African Bull Elephant in the U.S.

The North Carolina Zoo is mourning the death of C'sar, the Zoo's longest-tenured resident and the oldest African bull elephant in the United States. C'sar died peacefully on Dec. 19 under the attentive care of a dedicated team of experts, who had been closely monitoring his health as age-related conditions progressed. He was 51 years old.

Orphaned in Kenya, C'sar arrived at the North Carolina Zoo on July 25, 1978, at around four years old. He was the 27th animal resident to join the Zoo, and its first elephant. Over five decades of life, he became an iconic figure and a steady source of inspiration for multiple generations of Zoo guests. While the North Carolina Zoo had hoped for C'sar to breed, he did not produce any offspring during his lifetime.

"C'sar was a living piece of history and a beloved member of our Zoo community," says Diane Villa, interim director of the North Carolina Zoo. "His gentle presence and remarkable story introduced millions of guests to the wonder of wildlife and the importance of conservation. We are grateful to every staff member, past and present, who devoted their time, expertise, and hearts to caring for him. His longevity is a testament to the love and quality of care he received throughout his life."

Despite facing several age-related medical challenges as he grew older, including arthritis and declining vision, C'sar lived a full and enriched life thanks to innovative care, positive reinforcement training, and the unwavering dedication of his keeper team. In 2011, he made history as the first elephant in the world to undergo successful cataract surgery and later became the first to receive custom-fitted contact lenses. As he aged, C'sar benefited from other innovative care techniques, such as participating in yoga several times a week to maintain strength, balance, and flexibility for optimum health.

"Meeting C'sar up close and getting the chance to feed him was a highlight in my first year in this role," said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. "Not only did C'sar bring joy to visitors for decades, but he embodied everything that is wonderful about the North Carolina Zoo: conservation, education, and phenomenal animal care. We will miss him, and our thoughts are with his keepers, Zoo employees, and all those who loved him."

C'sar's legacy extends far beyond Asheboro. He served as a global ambassador for African elephants, representing an endangered species that remains vulnerable in the wild due in part to poaching, habitat loss, and human-elephant conflict. His story elevated the Zoo's conservation leadership, including its decades-long efforts in west Africa to protect wild elephant populations through satellite tracking collars, anti-poaching initiatives, and community-based conservation strategies.

"C'sar helped people understand why conservation matters," said Rich Bergl, deputy director and chief mission officer of the Zoo. "Because of him, guests have felt a personal connection to the challenges faced by wild elephants and have seen how we all have a role to play in ensuring the survival of elephants and other wild species. He was truly an inspirational animal and will be missed."

The Zoo will be planning opportunities for the community to honor C'sar's memory, and details will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Zoo is asking the public to join them in celebrating a life that touched so many and helped advance the care and protection of elephants worldwide.

Donations to The C'sar Legacy Fund can be made through the NC Zoo Society at https://www.nczoo.com/forms/store/csar-legacy/. More information on C'sar's life and legacy is also available at https://www.nczoo.org/.

About the North Carolina Zoo
At the North Carolina Zoo, we celebrate nature. As the world's largest natural habitat Zoo, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about animals in the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our Zoo each year. Our dedicated team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate care for the more than 1,700 animals and 52,000 plants that call our Park home. We also lead efforts locally and globally to protect wildlife and wild places because we believe nature's diversity is critical for our collective future. The North Carolina Zoo invites all of our guests to witness the majesty of the wild in the heart of North Carolina and welcomes everyone to join in our mission to protect nature's diversity. Visit NCZoo.orgto begin your life-changing journey.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

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