BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- The world's only known albino gorilla, Copito de Nieve (Snowflake), died early Monday at the Barcelona zoo, leaving this city without a beloved mascot and the scientific world without one of its most unique creatures.
Zoo officials practiced euthanasia on the elderly gorilla, who had been dying from skin cancer since 2001.
In September, officials announced his imminent death, and since then Barcelona citizens had flocked to the zoo to say their goodbyes to this emblematic, if often grouchy, animal so closely associated with the city for the past 37 years.
In his time at the zoo, he fathered 22 offspring with three different females. None is albino.
"Until the end Copito enjoyed a fantastic quality of life, interacting normally with his children and grandchildren," said the zoo's chief and veterinarian, Jesus Fernandez.
"Lately though, he deteriorated quickly. In the past four or five days we noticed signs of pain and suffering and so decided to practice euthanasia."
Euthanasia is "standard protocol" at the zoo, he added.
Copito, who was thought to be between 38 and 40 -- equivalent to 80 human years -- was loved by kids and kids at heart from all over the world, said Barcelona mayor Joan Clos.
"Copito has been an unforgettable companion for our city and we all feel regret at losing him," Clos said. "He's made a great contribution to his species by making the plight of gorillas more known, and the best thing we can do for him now is to continue that work."
For years, Copito's wrinkly white face has been on Barcelona postcards.He was also the main character in a novel and even had memoirs written in his name.
The city plans to create an educational space about gorillas at the Barcelona zoo in an effort to teach visitors about the dangers facing gorillas in the wild. There will also be a scientific archive about Copito's life and, possibly, a statue in the zoo to commemorate the albino gorilla.
An autopsy will be performed on the cadaver before parts of the animal, such as a small sample of his skin, a DNA sample, and some body fluids, are given over to scientists. The gorilla's skeleton may also be preserved, but only for scientific study, not for public display, said Barcelona town hall official Jordi Portabella.
Though Copito was a scientific "curiosity," his body has little real scientific value, Fernandez said. Not enough studies have been done to know how many albino gorillas may live in the wild, but they are very rare and Copito was the only albino known to be alive in the world, Fernandez said.
