BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Dallas the California sea lion died unexpectedly Sunday night at The Buffalo Zoo.
According to a post on the zoo's Facebook page, the veterinary and animal care team had been treating Dallas for a respiratory issue. The results of a necropsy were inconclusive on his cause of death.
Dallas, who was 21, came to the Zoo in 2005 as one of the original inhabitants of Sea Lion Cove. The zoo says while California sea lions have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years in the wild, they usually live 20 to 30 years in captivity because of the care they receive.
Dallas' daughter Toni, remains in the zoo's sea lion exhibit, along with Jesse and Pokey.
The death of Dallas comes just two weeks after the sudden death of Sampson the giraffe. He died of complications following a medical procedure, less than a month before his sixth birthday.
"We are committed to connecting our Buffalo Zoo community to wildlife and wild places, and one way we do so is by bringing you many different scenes from the Zoo -- our shared wins and losses, births and deaths, and highs and lows," the zoo said in a statement. "In that spirit of community, we ask that as you offer your condolences that you keep the discussion civil and thoughtful out of respect and sensitivity for our teams whose hearts are hurting today."
