ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — The North Carolina Zoo is mourning the loss of C’sar, the oldest African bull elephant in North America and the zoo’s longest-tenured resident, who died Dec. 19 at age 51.
For 47 years, C’sar stood as the towering centerpiece of the zoo’s African habitat — a familiar presence to generations of North Carolinians who saw C’sar on field-trips and years later as an adult, watching him grow over the years.
Born in the wild in Kenya in 1974, C’sar was orphaned at a young age and brought to the United States in 1976. He initially lived at the Toledo Zoo, where he was known as “Flapjack,” before eventually making his way to Asheboro.
On July 25, 1978, the 4-year-old elephant arrived at the North Carolina Zoo, becoming its first elephant and the 27th animal in the young park’s collection. He would go on to spend nearly five decades there, growing to 11 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing more than 13,000 pounds.
A trailblazer in animal care
Zoo officials said C’sar’s longevity was the result of both attentive daily care and groundbreaking veterinary innovation.
In 2011, he became the first elephant to undergo successful cataract surgery, restoring his vision and allowing him to continue navigating his habitat with confidence. When his eyesight later declined again, he made history a second time as the first elephant to receive custom-fitted contact lenses.
As he aged, C’sar developed arthritis, a common condition in older elephants. His care team implemented strength and flexibility routines, often referred to as “elephant yoga,” to help maintain his mobility and balance.
C’sar was features on National Geographic’s Secrets of the Zoo: North Carolina show, where a nation wide audience got to see him preform yoga on TV’s and phones.
The Zoo also pointed to specialized feeders —designed with assistance from students at Randolph Community College— which encouraged natural foraging behaviors and kept him mentally and physically engaged.
“C’sar was a living piece of history,” interim Zoo Director Diane Villa said in a statement. “His story introduced millions of guests to the wonder of wildlife and the importance of conservation. His longevity is a testament to the love and quality of care he received throughout his life.”
A milestone celebration
In August 2025, the zoo marked C’sar’s 51sh birthday with a public celebration and a collection of his favorite snacks, some frozen in ice for the hot summer day. The event highlighted his enduring popularity and the deep connection many visitors felt with the elephant who had called Asheboro home since the zoo’s early years.
Conservation impact beyond North Carolina
C’sar served as a symbol of the zoo’s conservation work in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, where satellite tracking and anti-poaching initiatives aim to protect wild elephants from the ivory trade.
To honor his legacy, the zoo has established the C’sar Legacy Fund through the NC Zoo Society to support ongoing elephant conservation efforts.
As the herd moves forward without its longtime patriarch, zoo officials said they hope the public will remember C’sar not only for his size and age, but for the breakthroughs in animal care he inspired and the awareness he helped raise for one of Africa’s most iconic species.
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