Created: 11/19/2009 4:04:57 PM 
Asheboro, NC-- A male California sea lion died Wednesday at the North Carolina Zoo while being examined by veterinarians for a variety of medical problems.
Joey, a 25-year-old sea lion, passed away under anesthesia while specialists from the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine were examining the animal for a number of problems, including weight loss and loss of appetite. According to NC Zoo Senior Veterinarian Dr. Ryan DeVoe, Joey had lost more than 50 pounds in recent months and was being treated for a number of age-related problems. The average life span for California sea lions is 18 years.
Veterinarians also discovered that Joey was suffering from three abscessed teeth which were being removed during Wednesday's procedure. A necropsy, or animal autopsy, conducted late Wednesday revealed the sea lion also had severe arthritis, heart valve lesions and sinus infection, DeVoe said.
Joey was born at Marineland of Florida and was transferred to the NC Zoo in May 1995. The zoo's other marine mammals, a female sea lion and a two male seals, appear in good condition and remain on exhibit at the zoo's Rocky Coast exhibit complex. The zoo will be searching for another male sea lion in the coming days, according to Curator of Mammals Terry Webb.
NC Zoo
