THE world’s saddest elephant has died after 43 YEARS locked up in solitary confinement at a Spanish zoo.

Cordoba Zoo said that keepers awoke to "sad news of the death of our beloved elephant Flavia".

8 She arrived in southern Spain when she was three years old in 1976 Credit: Central European News

8 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) said campaigners had been working to save Flavia from captivity until her very last moments Credit: Central European News

The female Asian elephant arrived at the zoo in the city of Cordoba in southern Spain when she was three years old, in 1976.

She was euthanised on March 1 after suffering deteriorating health over the past few years.

And reports said the elephant was also suffering from deep depression.

The Local ES said Flavia was known as the "saddest elephant in the world" as she was separated from her herd when young.

She was at the heart of numerous campaigns to stop elephants being kept in captivity.

Amparo Pernichi, environmental spokeswoman for Corboba, said it was "sad news" for the zoo - particularly those who cared for her.

She added: "In the last six months, the physical state of Flavia got worst, but especially in the last two weeks."

Pernichi said when the elephant was struggling to stand up, she was initially given a sedative.

Once Flavia had fallen asleep, she was given another injection to euthanise her, to end her suffering.

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Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) said they had been working to save Flavia from captivity until her very last moments.

Experts from Belgium and France, who saw Flavia in January, said she had lived all of her life in confinement and solitude and was a symbol of the sad life of animals in zoos.

But keepers at the zoo posted a video in tribute to her, saying: "On March 1, 2019, Córdoba woke up with the sad news of the death of our beloved elephant Flavia.

"With this audiovisual we want to pay tribute [to her] for accompanying us for more than 40 years, teaching us to take care of her species, their habitat and the environment at the hands of their closest family."

8 The animal was separated from other elephants for most of her life Credit: Central European News

8 In a tribute video uploaded on YouTube, zoo staff said she had helped 'teach us to take care of her species'

8 Staff at the zoo in Cordoba, Spain, said her death was 'sad news'

8 Campaigners had been trying for years to stop her captivity Credit: Central European News

8 Cordoba spokeswoman Amparo Pernichi tweeted that it was 'sad news'

8 Flavia, a female Asian elephant, was put down after suffering poor health Credit: Central European News