Berlin Zoo 1995 - The last Elephant Seal in Europe

@Tarsius : That is a bit broad of an answer. I am quite sure that it is not EVERYTHING in elephant seal biology that would make it impossible to keep them, otherwise they would have never lived longer than a few days in any zoo. For example, it is certainly not the feeding habits that would make it impossible to keep them.
In the meantime, I read zebraduiker's answer to the same question and the following replies in another thread regarding elephant seals, which gave me more of an idea were you might stand on this.
Regarding the research into causes of death, I'll be happy to do this myself, but it will take me a few days to get this information. I will get back to you, once I know more.

Saro said:

@Tarsius: How many females were killed by males?

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Tarsius said:

To answer your last question I had to do a reserach in my archive, Sorry, I don't have the time for that now...

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I now have the information for 53 southern elephant seals, kept in zoos and aquariums since 1933. According to this information, the only female that died because of injuries caused by her exhibit mate (bull) was "Nixe" at Berlin Zoo. She died on March 21, 1994, after being at Berlin Zoo for 16 years.

The record age for a female is 23 years ("Ramona" at Madrid) and the record age for a male is 22 years ("Charly" at Stuttgart). The average life expectancy is significantly lower, but I have not figured that out yet.

In the wild, female southern elephant seals have a maximum life expectancy of about 23 years, the maximum life expectancy of a male elephant seal is 20 years.

This species has certainly not done well in zoos in the past, but the fact that a significant number of individuals has reached a relatively high age (often in questionable keeping conditions) makes it pretty much impossible to say that they can not be kept in zoos at all. If they SHOULD be kept is a totally different question although. I would say that this could only be justified under the best possible circumstances.

Saro said:

The record age for a female is 23 years ("Ramona" at Madrid) and the record age for a male is 22 years ("Charly" at Stuttgart).

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These are very interesting statistics.

In his book “Longevity of Mammals in Captivity from the Living Collections of the World” (2005) Richard Weigl also lists a female southern elephant seal that lived in Antwerp Zoo for 23 years 8 months.

Mr. Weigl seems to be right - my mistake! "Adele" lived at Antwerp from 1973 to 1996 and although I do not have an exact birth date, it is very likely the record is hers ! I remember seeing her in the early 90's.

Saro said:

Mr. Weigl seems to be right - my mistake! "Adele" lived at Antwerp from 1973 to 1996 and although I do not have an exact birth date, it is very likely the record is hers ! I remember seeing her in the early 90's.

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Was there an elephant seal in Antwerp as late as 1996? I have a friend in Antwerp who has told me that the female died in 1992 or 1993, with the male having died in I think 1988. I used to have all of Antwerp's 1990s guidebooks when I was a zoo material collector and only the very early guidebooks of that decade mentioned an elephant seal.

Adele died at Antwerp on September 15, 1996. I don't remember exactly, when I last saw her personally. I have to check my pictures, but it was almost certainly after 1995!