11/10/2025
He was the only white gorilla the world had ever known.
Snowflake lived at Barcelona Zoo from 1966 until 2003. He was gentle and stubborn and easy to spot with his white fur and pale eyes.
In his later years, the sun hurt him. He developed skin cancer and his health faded. On November 24, 2003, the zoo made the hard choice to let him go.
He was about 38 to 40 years old. He had become a symbol of the city. Children grew up visiting him. Scientists studied him. The world watched him age.
Snowflake was also a father. He had 22 offspring with three females at the zoo. None were albino, but all carried a piece of his rare story.
People still talk about him. About the day he arrived. About the quiet goodbye. About how a single animal can make a whole city feel connected.
References
Barcelona Zoo's Rare Albino Gorilla Dying of Skin Cancer - Los Angeles Times
Albino gorilla Snowflake dies in Barcelona - ABC News (Australia)
Snowflake: The White Gorilla - Snowflake's Legacy - PBS Nature
Albino Gorilla Was Result of Inbreeding - National Geographic
Disclaimer: Images are generated using AI for illustration purposes only.