Pittsburgh Zoo announces death of Coolio, an elephant seal rescued from California

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium announced that its northern elephant seal, Coolio, died Tuesday morning.

“Our animals are like family and today we lost a unique member,” says Dr. Barbara Baker, president and CEO. “Coolio was an amazing animal who touched not only our lives but our visitors as well. He will be missed dearly.”

Zoo officials said Coolio passed away during a veterinary procedure and gross necropsy results indicated the seal suffered from congenital abnormalities, including blood vessel abnormalities, likely resulting in severe hypertension.

Coolio was found severely injured and near death when he was just three months old along the California coast. The zoo said it’s not unusual for northern elephant seals to accidentally beach themselves at young ages as they learn to hunt for food and navigate the oceans.

Coolio was rescued by the Northern Marine Mammal Center and nursed back to health, but the damage he suffered to his eyes left him blind. The NMMC reached out to the Pittsburgh Zoo after they determined he could not be released back into the wild.

“He was always eager to learn and despite his disability, he made great progress,” says Paul Moylett, curator of Aquatic Life.

When the zoo rescued a second northern elephant seal, Ellie Mae, keepers wondered how Coolio would react. “He was cautious at first,” said Moylett. “But he adapted quickly. He and Ellie Mae got along very well.”

Raw: Blind baby northern elephant seal rescued, being taken care of at Pittsburgh Zoo Raw: Blind baby northern elephant seal rescued, being taken care of at Pittsburgh Zoo

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