NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Aquarium of Niagara shared the sad news Monday afternoon that one of their sea lions have passed away due to kidney failure.
Mia, a 15-year-old California sea lion, had first joined the Aquarium of Niagara in 2014 after being rescued along with her baby Isabel.
The aquarium said they had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to Mia after discovering she was suffering from kidney failure. "Our veterinary and zoological teams made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Mia following a month-long period of declining health. Extensive diagnostic testing and monitoring revealed that Mia was suffering from terminal kidney failure. Although we don’t know her exact age due to being rescued as an adult, we believe she was at least 15 years old."
"Few animals exemplify the Aquarium’s mission like Mia. For nearly a decade, Mia defied the odds and served as an incredible ambassador for her species. Her survival story showcases the harmful impact of human activity on wildlife and the Aquarium's role in providing lifelong care for vulnerable and non-releasable animals." the aquarium continued their post, "We will miss seeing Mia lounging at the bottom of her exhibit, resting in the current, or greeting a guest during an encounter program, but we know her story will leave a lasting impact."
“As animal care professionals, we are extremely proud to have given the highest level of care to Mia for the past 9 ½ years,” said Hallie Torre, associate curator, marine mammals and birds. “I have been working with Mia since the day she joined our Aquarium family, and I’ve watched her grow and develop alongside countless animal care specialists whose lives and careers have been shaped by their work with this incredible animal. Mia brought joy to many, and she will be greatly missed.”
The aquarium is asking the public to share any photos or memories of Mia on their social media channels.
See the full post attached below for more.
