Terra Natura Murcia has said farewell to its oldest animal, Fabila, a brown bear who turned 34 in January. She died this week after spending nearly three decades at the park.

Fabila arrived at the former Espinardo zoo, now Terra Natura Murcia, in 1997 alongside another bear, Baku. The pair were the first brown bears to be housed at the park, having come from the Martioda Centre in Sobrón, Álava. Fabila went on to live at the site for 28 years, becoming one of its most recognisable animals.

She was the mother of two cubs, Yaki and Nuca, whose names were chosen through a readers’ campaign organised by local newspaper La Verdad. Over the years, visitors celebrated key milestones with her, including her 23rd birthday in 2015 and her 30th in 2022.

Brown bears have an average life expectancy of between 25 and 35 years. The species is considered threatened in the Iberian Peninsula, and conservation work carried out by parks such as Terra Natura Murcia plays an important role in protecting it.